Value Your Friends

Value Your Friends “May another take his place of leadership. So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also called Justus) and Matthias…who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken from us. Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” Acts 1:20-23 This is the scripture that tells us what happened after Jesus ascended to Heaven, and how the remaining eleven apostles chose the successor to Judas. So often we think that the twelve disciples were the only ones that were close to Jesus, but we see in the scripture above that there were others that were close to him as well. This scripture tells us that both Joseph and Matthias were with Jesus even before he chose the Twelve Apostles. Jesus also was close to Mary, Martha and Lazarus. We also find that there were the 120 people who gathered before Pentecost who also were close to Jesus. Just imagine Jesus meeting with these people in settings much like the small groups we have today in our churches. He ate with them, spent time with them, talked of God to them, and prayed with them. Have you given any thought of the people who are close to you? Who are your circle of friends and do you spend time with them as Jesus did? The church family during my childhood did things together, such as picnics, dinners, etc. as the life of the family revolved around the church. When we have people that are close to us we need to nurture them as Jesus did, by spending time with them, praying with them and worshipping together with them. We need to treasure those who have walked with us, and have been close to us for much of our lives, for they are among God’s greatest gifts to you. My Daily Devotional Volume III April 10 Robert William Brock, Jr.