By Village Missionary Movement

Wednesday, 13-Oct-2021

Daily Devotion (English) – 13.10.2021

 

Genuine friend 

 

“Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed.” - Proverbs 27:5 

 

A certain gentleman who got into the habit of smoking happened to meet a friend of his school days quite unexpectedly. He was excited to see him. As he was smoking at that time, he casually offered a cigar to his friend but it was denied by him. Their conversation was all about their memorable school days. They cherished the memories of the time spent together. But the gentleman lighted another cigarette while chatting. His true friend could not bear to see such a sight. He asked his friend if he could press the cigar against his shirt and put out it. He retorted saying, “Don’t you know that it will burn a hole in my costly cotton shirt?” His friend said, “Friend, you are worried about a thousand rupee you paid for the shirt. You don’t like to get it spoilt. But you have been damaging the precious parts such as your heart and lungs by smoking.” Then he began to ponder. 

 

In the 15th chapter of the book of Samuel 1, we find prophet Samuel rebuke King Saul pointing out to the mistakes he committed without any hesitation and with contempt. Samuel was very candid with Saul. Samuel was the messenger sent to Saul by the Lord asking him to destroy Amalek utterly. But Saul spared king Agog and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lamb and all that was good. Samuel very frankly reprimanded and said that God had rejected him from being a king. Even though he was the king, Samuel was not reluctant to reveal the truth. He reproached him openly. 

 

Friends, what type of friends are we? If we desire to be good and faithful friends, we must follow the word of God. If we remain quiet like a spectator and watch the mistakes committed by them without pointing out to them, we are like enemies who dig a pit for them. Nowadays we have more time to spend with our friends. Let us avail the opportunity. Though truth may hurt our friends, we need to speak to them and correct them candidly. The Bible directs us to admonish a friend when he goes astray. Let us be genuine friends doing good to them and having a great concern for their spiritual well-being.

- T. Sankarraj

 

Prayer Request:

Pray to God to grant us ministers of God with a vision to do ministry in Haryana and Punjab.

 

Website: www.vmm.org.in

Email: reachvmm@gmail.com

Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.infobells.vmmorgin

 

Village Missionary Movement, 

Virudhunagar, India – 626001

For Prayer Support: +91 94873 67663, +91 94424 93250