Your Daily Devotional for November 26, 2006

 

November 26, 2006

 

 

Giving Thanks: For Friendship

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

 

Proverbs 27:17

 

American representative Jesse Owens seemed sure to win the long jump at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. The year before he had jumped 26 feet, 8 1/4 inches—a record that would stand for twenty five years. As he walked to the long-jump pit, however, Owens saw a tall, blue-eyed, blond German taking practice jumps in the 26-foot range.

Owens felt nervous. He was acutely aware of the Nazis' desire to prove "Aryan superiority," especially over blacks. At this point, the tall German introduced himself as Luz Long. "You should be able to qualify with your eyes closed!" he said to Owens, referring to his two jumps. For the next few moments the black son of a sharecropper and the white model of Nazi manhood chatted.

Then Long made a suggestion. Since the qualifying distance was only 23 feet, 5 1/2 inches, why not make a mark several inches before the takeoff board and jump from there, just to play it safe? Owens did and qualified easily. In the finals Owens set an Olympic record and earned the second of four gold medals. The first person to congratulate him was Luz Long—in full view of Adolf Hitler.

Owens never again saw Long, who was killed in World War II. "You could melt down all the medals and cups I have," Owens later wrote, "and they wouldn't be a platting on the 24-carat friendship I felt for Luz Long."

A friend is a great thing to have—people who share in your victory, give comfort in your defeat, spend time with you, help cheer you up when you are down, and share in your pain.

Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” The last part of that verse tells us that there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother—Jesus Christ. Christ wants to be there for us even more than our own family! I know my family would do anything to help me, but I also know that any time I have a problem, Christ is always there to help me! What a great promise! 

 

You have a friend that loves you more than anyone on this earth could love you. Christ loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you. What love! Would you send one of your children to die for someone else? Would you sacrifice one of your close family members for a sinner? Yet God sacrificed His Son so that we may live with Him for eternity.

 

Have you ever thanked your friends for being a friend to you? Have you thanked them for being there when you need them? Take time to give someone a call or write a note of thanks today. Also thank God for being the best friend you could ever have. Jesus Christ didn’t have to die, yet He loved us enough to suffer for us! Thank Him for it!

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