A Very Present and Knitted Friend

Daily Scripture Threshing for Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Today’s Text: Proverbs 18:24

Key Verse: Proverbs 18:24 (KJV): “”One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Is there yet anything or anyone that may be relied upon anymore? Doesn't this generation seem totally bereft of any idea of trust? Recently, an artist created a piece of artwork after an autumn afternoon walk through a park. His painting depicts fallen leaves colored in bright orange and lit by the specially glowing autumn sun. The thought that motivated him to return to his studio to capture the atmosphere in his painting was his thought that, perhaps, the only thing we may naturally trust these days is the seasons. They come and go fulfilling their promise of constancy. This artist is not incorrect; he is only being incomplete. This is true because even times change and seasons fail. And of course, we should not be surprised because seasons themselves are caused by the tilts and twists of the Earth as we all spin along and travel in its orbit around the Sun. That, I believe, is a natural parable of earthly trust. We all watch our closest allies and companions tilt and twist as we all spin along in circles.

Thankfully, today's text calls our attention to something different. It is a call of hope: pointing us to a different and unselfish relationship. It invites us to a joyful and enlivening awareness that we still have one friend we all may trust. He is an ally who sticks closely to us with an unfathomably enduring attachment. Perhaps, this text is the first Gospel invitation in the Bible. It is an invitation to an encounter with Jesus, the fulfillment of all Scriptures, and the only image and character fitted for this description. Everything else will fail us, but He promises never to leave nor forsake us. Many or most earthly friends desert us in trouble, but the Lord rather desires us even more in those times of need. He is always our very present help: more hearty to help us than we can receive.

Quote for the Day: “In earthly standards, friends deal falsely, unequally and/or injuriously; but in the economy of divine friendship, we are brought into a matchless experience of love, peace, and hope." (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer: Dear Lord, You who never forsake those who trust and love You. Teach me also to be such friend as You to others, for Your own sake. This is my heart's desire today, and always, in Jesus' name. Amen.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

The Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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