TRUE FRIEND!Speaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: God calls us as friends Dearly beloved! Our God loves us in all circumstances. When we lose our beloved one, He comforts us with His loving presence and helps to overcome the grief. He sends us help at the right time. God gives us friends who will love us at all times (Proverbs 17:17).
In times of sorrow or grief, they will comfort us; they do not speak harsh words that hurt us but words of hope and faith. They will not say that we are the cause for the death of our loved ones but instead they will weep and grieve with us in our sorrow. They will try to make us happy again.
Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of man’s friend does so by hearty counsel (Proverbs 27:9).
When we lost our beloved daughter in a gruesome car accident, we were grieved more than words could explain, and were weeping over her loss for many days and nights. Coming to know of our inconsolable grief, the parents of a girl wrote to us like this. “Sir, our dear daughter was a classmate of your daughter, Angel. She looks very much like her. We will bring her to you. You hug and kiss her as your own daughter and this will help you to forget your sorrow a little.” They also brought their daughter one day. She really looked like my daughter, Angel. Forgetting myself, I embraced and kissed her. For a moment I had forgotten my worries. The girl’s parents who saw all of this, wept. The love of such people is indescribable.
Look at St. Paul, he explains the crisis in his life that was the outcome of his serving the Lord. “Our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus” (II Corinthians 7:5, 6). Likewise, Philemon 7; Colossians 4:11; Ephesians 6:22, speak of the comfort that the servants of God received from various people. It is natural for people to become friends with others, but God, the Father, calls us as His friends (John 15:15).
Once we had been to Vijayawada in the state of Andhra to conduct Gospel meetings. One night, when I prayed for the millions who had gathered there, the Holy Spirit said like this. “There is a daughter by name Angel, here. She says to herself, ‘My name is Angel. If I go and meet Dhinakaran Uncle and Aunty and kiss them, how comforting it will be and it will make them happy.’ Call her name.” I obeyed His command and the girl came and stood by me. Seeing her, my wife, son and I were surprised. She was very much like Angel. She also hugged and kissed us and made us happy. As long as we were in that city, she visited and comforted us.
My dear ones! Our God comforts us when we languish in pain and sorrow. He will be your friend to the end. You can share your joy and sorrow with Him.
Prayer:
Loving Father,
We come to Your Holy Presence in awe of You. Lord, as You were a friend of Abraham and Moses, be my friend too. Fill me with Your comforting presence and make me a channel of comfort to people who are in sorrow and pain. Let my words give them hope and faith. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen. |