January 27, 1999, Wednesday

Do your best friends provide guidance to the difficult

questions that you have? Do your best friends guard you

from wrong choices and challenge you with making correct

choices? What do you gain from your friends that will

help you the most?

Wise King Solomon knew the high quality character of

a best friend would advise him to always to do right--

"The righteous person is a guide to his friend, but the

path of the wicked leads them astray" (Pro 12:26).

That friend that advises another to do right is a

valuable asset and stabilizing force when one does

not always see clearly the correct direction.

Paul believed that wise counsel to his friends could

protect them and give them peace to guard their heart

when their circumstances were difficult. He advised

them to consider God's right to do anything in their

life, regardless of how difficult it is to understand-

"But who are you, my friend, to talk back to God? A

clay pot does not ask the man who made it"- "Why did

you make me like this?" (Rom 9:20). Many believers are

confused with circumstances that seem to contradict

that God is faithful to us. Job asked simlar questions

and found a young friend Elihu that reminded him of a

God who had not forgotten him, but had the right to do

all things in his life.

Paul explained to the Corinthians the great gain and the

advantage a believer had in times of tough difficulties--

"There are many enemies, but we are never without a friend;

and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed" (2Cor

4:9). The friend that Job and Paul found was a great gain

for them, even at the time when it appeared they were being

singled out for destruction. What they were able to gain

was peace, understanding, and explanation to their inquiries.

Let us remember who is our Best Friend. God's Name is

Jehová Adonai. He is the God who accepts us as we are

without any modifications. He is the God who will never fail

you nor forget you. He will never leave you or let you down.

Lift your hands to your Best Friend. Praise Him and thank

Him for all the blessings of His acceptance and friendship.