Christian Devotional For Kids

A True Friend:

What is a friend?
Listed below are some characteristics of a true friend.

A TRUE FRIEND:

C - hallenges one another to make Godly choices & decisions and leads by example.
A - ccepts one another - John 13:20 “Whoever accepts anyone I send accepts Me; whoever accepts Me, accepts the One who sent Me.” Friends reach out to others in Jesus’ name with love and compassion.
R - respects one another - 1 Peter 2:17 - “Show proper respect to everyone…” Each person is uniquely created by God with a special plan and purpose.
E - ncourages one another - Hebrews 3:13 - “…encourage one another daily..” A friend encourages others - daily!
S - ticks with you - Proverbs 18:24 - “…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” - Be a forever friend - Jesus is our example!

So, a TRUE friend …C.A.R.E.S. How can we S.H.A.R.E. our friendship with others? Jesus told us to go and make disciples - let’s look at 5 ways we can S.H.A.R.E. with others:

S - how kindness! Kindness may mean taking homework to a sick friend, not saying mean words when we don’t agree with someone and so forth. Kindness is shown in little things like a friendly hi or a smile.
H - onor one another! To honor a friend is to care about them at all times - not only when they invite you to a water park or share their candy. Do we show honor to one another in our words, thoughts and action? Romans 12:10 - “Honor one another above yourselves.”
A - lways forgive! To forgive can be hard to do when someone hurts us, but Jesus is our example and He gives us the strength to forgive. Colossians 3:13 - “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
R - emember to pray together. God commands us to pray for one another because He knows it will help us become better friends in His family. Deuteronomy 4:7 - “…The Lord God is near to us when we pray to Him.” It is encouraging and refreshing to come alongside one another and pray and seek God’s face together. God moves in response to the prayers of His people. Show’s God’s love and care by being sensitive to the needs of others - offer to pray for and with them and you will be blessed!
E - ncourage friends to do right! One person can have difficulty making a right choice, but when 2 or 3 friends stand with him or her, the choice is must easier. Let’s encourage our friends to make holy and Godly choices and decisions. Let’s lead by example!

So, how can we S.H.A.R.E. our friendship with others? The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:13-15

Jesus is the pure example of a true friend, for He laid down His life for His “friends”. What is more, anyone may become His friend by trusting in Him as his own personal savior, being born again and receiving new life in Him.