Thursday, June 20

THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2019

"A friend loves at all times,

    and a brother is born for a time of adversity." (Proverbs 17:17:

"Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;

    though lofty, he sees them from afar.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

    you preserve my life.

You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;

    with your right hand you save me." (Psalm 138:6,7)

These two verses from today's readings tie together for me under the banner of humility and love. These two elements provide the backdrop for strong human relationships and also our relationship with our Father.

From Psalm 138:6, we understand that God draws near to those who are humble. We understand from other Scripture passages that humility works in reverse, too: that those who are humble seek God more fully. In addition to recognizing God's awesome love and concern, that humility comes from a recognition of our very dependence on God and His sustaining power in our lives. David encapsulates this attitude graphically in Psalm 63:1:

"You, God, are my God,

    earnestly I seek you;

I thirst for you,

    my whole being longs for you,

in a dry and parched land

    where there is no water." 

Humility breeds a hunger for healthy relationships, while pride promotes self-sufficiency and user-abuser relationships. Humility encourages mutual sharing of joys and burdens. As Proverbs 17:17 explains, the love of real friends endures and perhaps strengthens in times of adversity. Real friends embrace us and declare that we are neither alone nor abandoned. They re-emphasize God's promises to stand close to the broken-hearted and crushed in spirit. They encourage us to remain faithful to God's purpose and caring for others, even when we are hurting and low in reserves.

We all face challenges, but God has provided both His intimate friendship and the love of others to carry us through. He has brought comfort to us in our trials so that we may, in turn, comfort others. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) How would you like to be loved today? How could you love others in that way?

Father, thank You for making it possible to approach You as a friend through the shed blood of Your Son. Many of us are hurting and broken at this moment, and we ask that You would send real friends into our lives today. Draw close to those who are weak and burdened, and give them rest under the yoke of Your Son. Develop a greater love and greater humility in us, so that we may become deeper in our relationships with You and others. In Jesus's mighty Name, amen.