MEMORISE: “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.” – Psalm 55:21 (KJV)
READ: Proverbs 26:23-27 (KJV)
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 34-36
MESSAGE:
When you read the story in Mark 5:35-42, you see what happened in the house of Jairus. It tells you that fake sympathizers have been in the world from long ago. When Jesus came and said everyone should go out because the child was not dead, but only sleeping the Bible reported that they laughed him to scorn. They switched from weeping to laughing within a second.
That means they were not sad to start with at all! I am happy that Jesus chased them out of the house. In the name that is above every other name, Jesus will chase fake friends out of your life.
When the widow of Nain in Luke 7:11-17 was going to bury her only son and Jesus met her on the way, there were a lot of people there who pretended to be sympathizing with her, but I am sure that they must have been saying, “Is she the only one in the town? Why is it that tragedy upon tragedy is befalling her? First the husband died, now the only boy she had is dead. God must be punishing her for her sins”.
That is what they must have been saying, until Jesus got there and stopped the procession. One of my children once said the grave diggers were waiting, they had already dug the grave. The mourners were waiting to do the final mourning at the graveyard, but the Almighty God disappointed them. Every grave digger waiting for you shall be disappointed this year. Everyone waiting to mourn over you will be disappointed in Jesus’ name. Anyone who thought he or she had succeeded in making you sad, by the time God turns the tide, you will laugh last.
Everyone at one time or the other will encounter fake friends, that is why you must be careful who you call, “Friend”. Not everyone who calls themselves your friend should be close to you. Not everyone who comes close to you should know your secrets. Not everyone should be given access to your inner circle.
The Bible says that you should love even your enemies (Matthew 5:44), but it does not say everyone should be your friend, so, love them from a distance. Be good to people, but don’t make them your friends if they have not really proven to you beyond any reasonable doubt that they are true friends. You don’t need many friends. Proverbs 18:24 says there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. It didn’t say there are many friends, it says “a friend”.
KEY POINT: Beware of fake friends.
Open Heavens 2022 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.
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