Friends and Mercy

Proverbs 17:17
" A friend loves at all times, 
And a brother is born for adversity."
 I sit here today humbled and extremely blessed. In a very early hour of prayer. This morning our Awesome God has pointed out to me, one by one, the special people He has brought into my life. I say special because these are not  your average run of the mill people! They are friends, REAL FRIENDS! They are not just acquaintances. Friends that love at all times. Even when I'm not a very lovable guy. Real friends understand what the word mercy is all about,  they know that every body needs mercy extended to them. They know that MERCY HAS VISION!We all mess up from time to time. The Bible tells us, "there is none righteous, no not one!"(Romans 3:10) In order to be a real friend you have to try and see people the way God sees them, "Imperfect but filled to the brim  and running over with potential." People are like a recipe, the ingredients are all there, God put them there. Everything needed to make us into what He wants us to be. Just add MERCY! Stir them up and they're ready to serve. You'll notice that this mercy is a continual application. God never stops pouring His mercy into our lives. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." New mercy every day, now that's a friend! I praise Father God that He has placed people in my life that have fleshed out an earthly example of His great mercy that does not fail. You'll also notice that mercy is an action word. MERCY DOES! Our Father God acted upon His mercy by sending His son,(Romans 5:8) He new we needed to be rescued and He acted upon it! Wow, I sit in amazement as I remember my friends coming to my rescue. When I'm hurting and in desperate need, there they arrive on the scene. Those Friends, sent by Father God, They are there to comfort, to pray, to cry and to love. It's at these times when the words mercy and friend take on a whole new meaning. What a picture of the love of Jesus! Mercy is also stable. MERCY STANDS! A brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17) Adversity is where real friendship is tested! As a pastor I can testify that I am no stranger to adversity. If we follow Jesus, If we love Jesus, If we serve Jesus, WE WILL FACE ADVERSITY! Jesus told us this in His word.(John 15:17-19) The world will hate us. We have a powerful enemy who stands in opposition to us. The devil hates us, but GOD LOVES US! He stands with us in adversity just as He stood for Stephen.(Acts 7:55-56) It's not an easy thing to stand with a friend in adversity. However this is the deepest calling of true friendship. Standing with someone in adversity is where friendship becomes brotherhood! The Proverb says, "a BROTHER is born for adversity!" I sit here this morning humbled. I am humbled because I realize I have many, Brothers and Sisters alike! They have stood by me and even carried me at times. They have prayed for me, encouraged me and loved me unconditionally. They have held me up when I did not have the strength to stand and I praise God for them all!  I am truly blessed! And my prayer this early Sunday morning is that you can say the same.