July 20, 2018 - - Proverbs 20:5 A better version of you

The purpose of a man's heart is like deep water,

but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Proverbs 20:5 ESV

It is altogether too easy for a man to either have too high a view of himself and always feel misplaced and out of step or to have too low a view of himself and so under-accomplish what he is capable of doing. A good friend is a great gift from God. Such a friend will listen, will act as a B.S. meter and so help draw out a realistic assessment of one's gifts, one's strengths and weaknesses, one's real reasons for doing or not doing a particular thing.

Christian friends have an even deeper bond. The very same Spirit that rose Jesus from the grave is the Spirit Who lives in us. The Spirit of God searches out the deep things of a man's heart. Christian friends then help one another achieve excellence as we listen to and encourage one another; pray with and for each other; correct one another even as we expect to be corrected. The Spirit uses such friendships to make us more like Christ.

This Spring I was visiting friends I had not seen in a long time. I was apologizing for imposing--I was spending a whole week with them. My friend's wife interrupted my apology and said: "I am glad you are here. My husband is a better version of himself when he is around you." Interesting. I was thinking my friend had exactly the same influence on me, bringing out a better version of me.

Thank You, Spirit of Truth, for the gift of friends who bring out the best in us. Work out Your holy purposes in us and among us so that we will be more like and reflect more of the glory of Christ. Amen.