A friendship forged in the fires of eternity and stretches out into forever. Something that didn't start in time but is manifested there. Two people who won't know each other after the flesh. The timelessness will be the quality of the fellowship.
"As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17 NKJV
If a heart is established in grace a friendship can be founded on grace. Then iron can sharpen iron because the substance in the other person is harder than steel can ever be. People forged in eternity past and manifested in time are people made from sturdy stuff. The love is real, the wisdom is Spirit led and there is flexibility that only God could produce.
"My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth." Proverbs 6:1-2 NKJV
A true friend will point to Christ and say, 'He is the leverage in your loan.' Christ has been revealed to be the true collateral in life and they will remind you to make Christ as the collateral for your life.
"Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, Nor go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away." Proverbs 27:10 NKJV
A Finished work friend is a friend because of the Father. Let us not forsake the friends of our Heavenly Father. Late nights, money and problems are small prices to pay. They are nothing.
"A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17 NKJV
A Finished Work friend is a friend in the Son. Jesus sticks closer than a brother. He loves and loves through thick and thin. He has our back in every trouble.
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit" 1 Corinthians 12:7-8 NKJV
Finished Work friends drink of the same Spirit. The same Spirit guides... the same Spirit teaches... the same Spirit reveals but through different eyes and in a fresh way.
"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly" Proverbs 18:24a KJV
There are friends out there waiting in the darkness. Friends that need the forgiveness that only Christ can give. People who are enemies to themselves who could after a touch from God, because of the presentation of the Gospel, be people we know and embrace and visit as our bosom friends forever.
I want to show myself friendly this summer. I don't want to strive to be friend in performance. I want to live in the substance of what friendship is.
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