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Show and share March 19, 2023 Proverbs - Friendship and Relationships

This week we learned about how our words and discipline ( hard, careful work and effort) can make a difference in our lives and those we are around. We learned that what we speak and do need to show others the love of God and Jesus.

We learned, as it states in 1 Peter, we are to let God’s love cover sin and our loving ways toward others will show God’s love. Jesus loved us to the point of death.

John 15:12 & 13 My command is this: love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one's friend.

As a friend we may never literally give our life for one another, but as Jesus we should live our lives knowing that the other person is more important than our own self. We live with the understanding that God’s will is more important than our own wants and desires.

This takes a careful obedience with God and Jesus directing our steps. We can say we love, but does our behavior show it? As children of God we need to be disciplined to listen and obey what God says and wants.

This is how we show love by living like Jesus Christ. He taught us it is better to give our lives for others. We do this by being a good loving friend. In Proverbs God reveals many things that make a friend.

We want to be faithful at showing others Our Father God and his son, Jesus. Proverbs 20:6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love; but a faithful man who can find ?

Here are some ways God’s Word instructs us to be a friend.

Speaking kind words : Proverbs 22:11 He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

Telling a friend what God’s word says: Proverbs 27:9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

We are to be loving like God and Jesus Christ at all times, even when we do not feel like it:

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times. Listening to the words spoken to us, even if it is hard:

Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

Keeping God’s word in our hearts so that we are ready to give a word that will help someone believe God and be more faithful: Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another

The words we speak can either be a perfume or poison. It takes hard work and careful thought to be a good friend. A diligent friend will love at all times, speak God’s word to one another, be willing to lay down our lives so others can trust God more.

Family activity:

This week decide to be the best friend you can be to one another. Be sure to go out of your way to be helpful to mom and dad. They may be your parents, but you love them like a dear friend. Look at each of these things above. Take one each day and be disciplined to be a friend to all of your family. Here are three steps to help you do this: 1. Pray for open eyes to see a person's needs. Even a hug at just the right time is loving. 2. Pick one person in your family each day to really be a good friend to. 3. Draw a picture or have someone help you write a nice note that tells them something kind. Remember even parents and grandparents are your friends.