“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness and he was called the Friend of God” (James 2:23).

We could go into a lengthy dissertation regarding faith and works. However, today’s emphasis is found in the last part of the verse.  Its parallel Old Testament reference is Genesis 15:6.   “Imputed (or assigned) unto him for righteousness” involves at least two areas. One of them is faith.  It is one thing to say we have faith, but, Abraham more than proved his faith. His willingness to offer Isaac confirmed it.  The other area is obedience. Abraham fully followed God’s will.  Is it any wonder why God made a covenant with him and called him friend?

We should strive to have an active faith like Abraham.  We could know no greater commendation than to be called “the friend of God.” And no greater joy could fill a soul than to hear Him say, “Well, done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21a).

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER:  Today begins the second week of Ramadan, a time of fasting during daylight hours and feasting in the night. Consider a day-fast, not to participate in the holiday, but to pray for the thousands whose eyes are blinded by the veil of Islam.

“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel” (Proverbs 27:9).

Studying the topic of friendship, I poured over several commentaries. The general consensus was a comparison of the “hearty counsel” of a friend to the sweet aroma of “ointment and perfume.”  When friends share burdens or problems, the load becomes lighter.Within the bonds of true friendship, advice or even rebuke is like a balm for the soul.  Having friends who aren’t there just to tell you things they think you want to hear is another test of friendship. True friends have each other’s best interests at heart. Knowing this, you know you can trust them to give you good advice—something sweeter than any fragrance.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Day 7 of Ramadan. Pray for avenues and opportunities to share the love of Christ with Muslims living in your area.

A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

I remember many years ago being taught it is better to have a few friends of great value than many of lesser value.  Times have changed but God is still the same. People, even Christians, are cautious about reaching out to others to build friendships.  That’s not to say this is a bad thing. However, in the process, people may be turned off by our attitudes.

The last part of today’s verse is the test.  If you do find someone and you both mutually decide to work on the friendship, the end result will be true friends. You may even feel closer to that person than to someone in your own family. True friends will still be there by your side when or if others decide to walk away.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER:  Today is Day 6 of Ramadan. Pray for Free Will Baptist workers serving in dominant Muslim areas.

“A friend loveth at all times…”  (Proverbs 17:17a).

As I thought about this portion of today’s Scripture, my mind drifted to thoughts of my best friend who lives in St. Louis.  We have been friends for over thirty years.  She has seen me at my best, and sadly, she has seen me at my worst.  However, she still loves me.  She exemplifies our verse. I’m very fortunate to have her in my life. When I moved from St. Louis, I was afraid it might affect our friendship.  So far it has hasn’t, and I’m very grateful.  I rejoice in my soul that God placed her in my life.  We have this “sisters in heart” bond that has stayed strong through the years.

I’m presently reading The Friendship Factor by Brenda Poinsett.  This book emphasizes that women need other women.  With all the technology that helps us stay connected , women still find a desperate need to sit down and talk face to face.. Maybe our souls feel empty because we haven’t taken the time to build a bridge or cultivate a relationship.  A friendship takes time and effort, but it is worth everything we invest.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER:  Pray for Christian believers in the changing country of Egypt on this fifth day of of Ramadan.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

This week as we continue working on feeding our souls, we will see how friendship plays a vital part in this process. Yes, we need to feed on the Word.  We shouldn’t isolate ourselves. We need the fellowship of other believers. However, the special one-on-one bond we have with friends is important to our spiritual well-being. I probably don’t need to go into much explanation of today’s verse.  Jesus is the greatest example of a great friend.  We may have some very close friends. However, would any of them lay down her life for you or you for her?  There will never be a greater love than Christ demonstrates for us.  No one took His life.  He freely gave it because He was our Greatest Friend.  The human mind can’t begin to fathom that kind of love or that kind of friend.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Continue to pray for grieving families in Aurora, CO. Pray that churches in that area would surround these individuals with the love of Christ and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Today is also Day 4 of Ramadan. Pray for Christian women throughout the world who are married to Muslim men. Pray that God would give them wisdom, freedom from oppression, and confidence in Christ to live out their faith as described in 1 Peter 3.

“May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ”  (2 Thessalonians 3:5 NLT).

In this passage, I don’t see where Paul has prayed sunny days, flower-strewn paths and picnicky kind of experiences for his new family.

Is that where we sometimes go wrong?  The unsaved loved ones, the newly-believing babes in Christ, the backsliders…should I be praying less for ease and comfort and more for God’s ways to bring them to their knees, redirect their paths through obstacles and unlovely circumstances?

We don’t learn about the deepness and vastness of God’s love while we’re on the mountaintop viewing the surrounding valleys and crevasses.  We gain knowledge and heart-sense as He walks us through them.

Maybe it’s time we pray a different kind of prayer.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Colorado FWB churches as they minister today to people for whom this past week’s shooting tragedy hits close to home. Today is the Day 3 of Ramadan. Pray for ministry in Alsace, the French city with its third largest concentration of immigrants. About 30,000 Turks live in Alsace, a people hardly touched with the gospel.  Sign up for daily prayer emails.

“Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy.  Encourage those who are timid.  Take tender care of those who are weak.  Be patient with everyone”  (1 Thessalonians 5:14 NLT).

That, my friends, is one tall order.  Lots to do, wouldn’t you agree?  Seemingly impossible, in regards to some we might be called to deal with on a daily basis.  But what really struck me is, of all the instruction given, I don’t see any of the tasks I’ve assigned to myself.  Odd jobs like…

—writing off those who have burned me previously.
—bad-mouthing those whose lifestyles bring about their chaotic and frantic problems.
—ignoring, avoiding or taking the long (and I mean long) way around the church to avoid those I don’t have the time to listen to.
—refusing to sign-up for projects with slackers.
—considering myself just a tad more important than others.

I’ve come to realize this morning that I have lots to do, and I have plenty of time to do it if I ditch some of the self-assigned, unimportant, against God’s will kind of things I’ve been busying myself with doing.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Colorado families affected by this past week’s shooting. Today is the Day 2 of Ramadan. Pray today for unwed mothers in Morocco, most who started working as “little maids” at an early age—as young as seven. Sign up for daily prayer emails.