Friendship is a gift of God, it is precious, it is priceless, and it is to be cherished. A friend is one with whom you are intimately acquainted, one with whom you can associate at any time or under any circumstances, one with whom you trust your confidences. A friend will love you when you're unlovable, lift you up when you are down, encourage you, laugh with you, cry with you, and even challenge you to rise above life's circumstances.

According to Proverbs 17:17, a brother is even closer than a friend.

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

As a member of the Family of God, we have a Friend and a Brother; He was not only born for adversity, He was born in adversity. He's our precious companion, our intimate acquaintance, our cherished associate, and our trustworthy confidant. He even loves us when we're unlovable. He's our Brother; we're joint heirs with Him. The closer we draw to Him the stronger the family resemblance and the more we look like Him, act like Him, and talk like Him—His image can be seen in every aspect of our lives! Because of His sacrificial love toward us, we share a kinship which denotes a blood relationship and a family resemblance.

We have a Friend and Brother in Jesus Christ today. He is truly precious, priceless and to be cherished. Take time to thank Him and acknowledge Him for all that He is to you in every way, not just today but every day. And, remember…He's there at any time, under any circumstances, ready to lift you up, encourage you, laugh with you, cry with you, and challenge you to rise above life's circumstances. He's closer than a friend…He's a brother!

"What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!"

Father, I thank you for the friend I have found in Jesus, my Brother, my Lord. I thank You that I'm accepted in Your family and made joint heir with my Brother. What more could I ever want or need? My Savior, Redeemer, Confidante, and Friend, truly precious, priceless and cherished, a Brother through the good times and the bad, at all times and forevermore. What a privilege to be in relationship with You! Amen.

© Jan Ross
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