David Jeremiah Daily Devotional (November 25, 2024) Thankful for Friends.
We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you. - Colossians 1:3
Recommended Reading: Acts 28:14-15 - where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. 15 And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
When you attend a high school, college, or family reunion—you realize how powerful those relationships were and how thankful you are for the people who helped shape your life. If it’s true that “we don’t miss the water ’til the well runs dry,” the same could be said for relationships. This fact ought to encourage us to invest in them more actively while we have the chance.
We often think of the apostle Paul as a missionary-scholar more than a people person—but such a perception would be wrong. Throughout Acts and Paul’s epistles we see evidence of the relationships he valued in his life. He had a deep relationship with the elders of Ephesus (Acts 20:17-38). When he wrote his letter to the church at Rome, he greeted some thirty people by name (Romans 16:1-16). He was greeted by members of the church as he approached Rome (Acts 28:14-15). He acted as a mentor to countless coworkers in ministry: Barnabas, Mark, Timothy, Titus, Luke, and more.
Thank God for your friends in the faith. While you are able, do everything you can to strengthen your bonds in Christ.
Christianity is all about relationships with God and with others. - David Watson
