Make sure your friend....

So often in life we have disappointments. Failure to achieve a goal, a love one passing on, a promised not kept and the one person you knew you could always count on abandoned you.

Worst of all a close friend’s betrayal!

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I remember in high school I had a very close friend. Whenever you saw him, you saw me. There were very few times we would not travel together, or I would be at his house eating. We played basketball and football together.

At parties if you him you saw me. It was as though we were as close as brothers. By the way I had three brothers and he only had one.

As a matter of fact, there were times we would bully his brother. That is how close we were.

But one day something happened. He totally betrayed me. We did not speak for days and once we did our relationship was never the same.

You see, betrayals are expected among enemies, not among friends. Especially, a close friend as close as a brother or a sister!

When it comes to the enemy, you prepare yourself. You brace yourself for an attack. You understand the inevitable. But, when it comes from a friend, usually, you are un-prepared.

The word of God says a good friend is closer than a brother.

A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:4.

Do you have a friend closer than a brother or sister? Are you a friend to someone closer than a brother or a sister?

Understand, as a leader, you will be tested and tried. God will allow the enemy to sift you, but once you have been sifted, tried and tested, then you will be stronger. Note: God will not put more on you than you can bear. He knows your strenghts and weaknesses.

This is what Jesus told Peter when he was about to be tested:

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: Luke 22:31-32. Jesus also told Peter that He prayed for him that his faith should not fail; and when he return to Him “strengthen your brothers.”

According to the word of God a great betrayal occurred against King David.

David, according to the Word of God, was tested and tried. He was a man after God’s very heart. It did not matter how many mistakes David made, He still had a heart for God and God honored that. David was God’s anointed and God was not going to allow the enemy to snuff him out.
See what David said when he discovered who his enemy was.

Passage Psalm 55:12-13:
12For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it;it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him.13- But it is you, a man, my equal,
In others words, Davis and his friend worshipped god together, they walk to Church together, they shared secrets together and that person was David’s worst enemy.

Remember this; forgiveness is always a must, if you were betrayed. Asking for forgiveness is always in order, if you betrayed someone.

Lastly, there are very good and faithful friends out there and when you find him or her hold on to them dearly. And always remember that you must also prove yourself be a faithful friend.

For good friends are hard to find, but when you do, you can confide and trust them.

God is always a friend you can trust. You can tell Him everything!!!

Happy reading…