Today's Verse: Proverbs 18:24

Sunday, October 15, 2023

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Who are your closest friends? Genuine friendships are challenging in a world of superficial acquaintances, shallow relationships, online friends, and chronic busyness. Today's meaning of "friend" is nearly empty of substance. "Hanging with the crowd" can give us a false sense of belonging but often leaves us wounded and alone in times of trouble. Open, honest, supportive, and loving relationships don't happen without investment in time together. Ask the Lord to lead you to close friends in his family. Minister to and serve those around you. Listen to their requests, faithfully upholding them in prayer. Spend time in Christian service with other servant believers. Join a Bible study or support group. As you do, trust that God will give you a stick-through-thick-and-thin-kind-of-friend as you pray to have "a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Companions are easy to find but can be unreliable. The development of genuine Christian friends is an investment of effort and time, but they are friends with whom we will share forever.

My Prayer...

Precious God, I thank you for my friends... (Include the names of your friends here.) Please, dear Father, lead me into the life of people this week who need me to be their friend. Bless all those who read Today's Verse with a Christian friend. I pray that they will help each other in their walk with you. Thank you so much, dear Father, for my faithful friend, Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

9 Related Resources by Heartlight

Illustration

Illustration of Proverbs 18:24 — A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Sunday, October 15, 2023

A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
"When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened [with the spread of the Good News to both Jews and Gentiles], they sent Barnabas to Antioch...."
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
"Dear Father, Thank you for giving us your Spirit, not through works of law but through faith in our hearts. Even Abraham was saved by faith, for he....."
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
"The Lord is my light and my salvation — so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?"
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.