There is A Friend

Prov. 18:24,    James, and        John 15:12-15

In our day we use the word friend too lightly and it has lost some of the deep spiritual meaning.

I: “A mans best friend…”
1. LOVE is part of a dog. (The Air-dale of San Angelo, TX). How they put us to shame.
2. Loyalty: Loyal even unto death. (A sheepdog with 1 eye shot out).
a. Suppose men and women would show some of that loyalty in the marriage relations.
b. or in the Church and to Christ.
3. Courage: “Not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.”
a. Prince never showed yellow.
b. Elton Smith’s life saved by a 40 lb. dog that was mortally wounded.
c. Courage has always been a mark of the friends of Christ; Martin Luther, “I neither can nor will make any retraction, here I stand. I can do naught else, God help me!”
John Knox, on his tombstone, “Here lieth one who never feared the face of any man.”
Ridley, before the fire: “So long as life is in my body I’ll never deny my Lord Christ.”
Latimer: “Bee of good comfort, ma.”
Master Ridley: “Play the man. We shall, this day light, such a candle by Gods grace in England, as I trust shall never be put out.”
4. Faithfulness: Time only strengthens faithfulness in a good dog.
a. He is faithful to his own master, not running under everyones wagon.
b. He will hunt what his master trains him to.
c. He has a natural desire to protect that which belongs to his master.

II: How Well do We Respond to the Friendship of Jesus?
1. He loved us while we were yet in sin.
2. He stood in our place and died.
3. He is willing to share all that he has with us.
4. When all other friends forsake us, he will be true.
5. Our faces are red with shame as we think how far short we fall in returning that friendship.