A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
To have friends a person must show himself friendly. Kind, helpful conduct wins respect and friendship, so that a canvasser who treats a household kindly may gain friends there and an opening to sell a book. The friend who sticks closer than a brother is Jesus Christ Himself, the dependable, never-failing, truest Friend, nearer than earthly kin.
He does not leave the suffering believer alone to struggle with temptation, to battle evil, or to be crushed by burdens and sorrow through poverty, persecution, cruelty, outrage, and insult even in the believer's own house. Though touched with human woe on earth and now ascended to His Father and adored by obedient angels, His loving, pitying, sympathizing heart is unchanged in tenderness. He knows sorrows, struggles, temptations, and tears because He endured, experienced, encountered, and wept them Himself. He imparts strength, raises up human friends when least expected, ministers through angels leading step by step up the rugged path with assurance not to fear because He lives forevermore and is with His child always even to the end of the world, and calls crushed earthly hope to lift the eye of faith through the veil and anchor hope there with everlasting assurance of His close friendship.
Those who recognize their weakness and trust in Him can rely on Him never to disappoint them. He helps His children, lifts them up, and makes a way of escape when they turn from worldly associations. In trials and difficulties He understands a person's situation better than the person can, shares the feelings of human weakness, and does not allow anyone to be tempted beyond what they are able to bear. He knows every circumstance and understands human weakness and need, inviting the heart to receive Him. Every trial, sorrow, and need may be told to Him, and He gives instruction, peace, and joy. This truth about Jesus as the closer-than-brother friend brings satisfaction and comfort, as it did to C. H. Jones.
To have friends a person must show himself friendly. Kind, helpful conduct wins respect and friendship, so that a canvasser who treats a household kindly may gain friends there and an opening to sell a book. The friend who sticks closer than a brother is Jesus Christ Himself, the dependable, never-failing, truest Friend, nearer than earthly kin.
He does not leave the suffering believer alone to struggle with temptation, to battle evil, or to be crushed by burdens and sorrow through poverty, persecution, cruelty, outrage, and insult even in the believer's own house. Though touched with human woe on earth and now ascended to His Father and adored by obedient angels, His loving, pitying, sympathizing heart is unchanged in tenderness. He knows sorrows, struggles, temptations, and tears because He endured, experienced, encountered, and wept them Himself. He imparts strength, raises up human friends when least expected, ministers through angels leading step by step up the rugged path with assurance not to fear because He lives forevermore and is with His child always even to the end of the world, and calls crushed earthly hope to lift the eye of faith through the veil and anchor hope there with everlasting assurance of His close friendship.
Those who recognize their weakness and trust in Him can rely on Him never to disappoint them. He helps His children, lifts them up, and makes a way of escape when they turn from worldly associations. In trials and difficulties He understands a person's situation better than the person can, shares the feelings of human weakness, and does not allow anyone to be tempted beyond what they are able to bear. He knows every circumstance and understands human weakness and need, inviting the heart to receive Him. Every trial, sorrow, and need may be told to Him, and He gives instruction, peace, and joy. This truth about Jesus as the closer-than-brother friend brings satisfaction and comfort, as it did to C. H. Jones.