Having a true friend is a great gift. Friends are a gift form God. Here listed are three ways to know if you have a true friend. The first way is if a friend is loyal to you. Barnabus showed his loyalty to Paul in Acts 9:23-29. When the disciples didn't want to believe that Saul (Paul) was converted, Barnabus stepped in and told them how the Lord changed Paul. Jonathan was loyal to David when King Saul wanted to kill David. He warned David so he could escape, which reminds me of the verse in Proverbs 17:17,"A friend loveth at all times (always loyal)..." As Christians, God is not only our Father, but our friend, a very close friend. Our loyalty to this close friend should come first before all other friends. The second way to know if you have a true friend is if that friend is forgiving. God demonstrates how a friend should forgive in 1 John 1:9. When you ask forgiveness from a friend, they should forgive you, even seventy times seven.(Matthew 18:21-22). Joseph forgave his brothers when they sold him to captivity. The third way to know if you have a true friend is if they are there in the good times and bad. Proverbs 17:17 says, " A friend sticketh closer than a brother" (helps in times of need). When Jonathan and David parted, they gave each other encouragement in the Lord and promised to be friends forever. Jonathan stuck with David when David had to hide from King Saul. Barzillai also helped David when he was running from Absalom and his army by giving him food and a place to sleep. Friends love, care, and are one of the greatest gifts that we can have.
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