True Friends Speak the Truth in Love
ICS Daily Devotions
John 15:14-15 (NKJV) You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
In the Bible, friendship is a deep covenantal relationship characterised by loyalty and unfailing love, as exemplified by Jonathan and David. For believers, our first covenant relationship is with God. We will bear much fruit if we abide in Him and He abides in us. He will speak into our lives and reveal to us all things, including His plan for our lives and the changes we need to make in our character, behaviour, and attitude, because fruit is produced through these changes. He will rebuke, correct, and train us in righteousness through the reading of the Word, which can be confrontational, or through the Holy Spirit’s prompting when we are about to make a decision. He will also show us the shortcomings and issues we need to address. If we refuse to change, God’s pruning process will continue because He wants us to bear fruit. No pruning is pleasant, but it will lead to good fruit when dealt with.
Malachi 2:14 (NKJV) Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the Lord has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant.
The second type of covenant relationship is with our spouse, within the marriage covenant. Our spouse is the covenant friend in our lives. They are the first to identify our blind spots, and can reprimand and correct us when they see something wrong. We should accept it gladly and be open to being reprimanded by them because it is based on unconditional love, and we know they have our best interests at heart. In fact, they can give the most accurate feedback because they observe us closely when our guards are down—they see the “real us” at home.
Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV) A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
The third type of covenant relationship is among close friends. We can have many friends, but there is one who sticks closer than a brother. This friend has a proven track record of being faithful, committed, trustworthy, and dependable; has gone through good and bad times with us. We know they mean well when they reprimand or correct us.
Proverbs 27:5-6 (AMP) Better is an open reprimand [of loving correction]
than love that is hidden. Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern], But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda].
Those who reprimand us and speak into our lives are people who love us deeply and care enough to tell us the truth, whereas our enemy won’t speak up because they want us to fail. The truth may hurt, but it is for our good. Truly, it’s better to receive the rebuke from God, your spouse, or your friend, rather than the kisses of an enemy.
Sermon Series: Do You Have A Blind Spot in Your Life
