A Friend in Deed

If God be for us who can be against us.
Rom 8.31

A contemporary of Mozart and Haydn, he started losing his hearing at age 28, and eventually became totally deaf. Incredibly, though, he continued writing some of the most beautiful symphonies, concertos, sonatas, and quartets of all time. Today, he ranks as one of the greatest composers in history. His name was Ludwig van Beethoven. Born in December 17, 1770. Beethoven wrote: "No friend have I. I must live by myself alone; but I know well that God is nearer to me than others in my art, so I will walk fearlessly with Him."

We all need friends but believers need never be alone for we have a friend who sticks closer than a brother. We all need friends to encourage us and motivate us and to challenge us. But there is one friend who is always available and never too busy and too distracted. We are always a priority with Him.

"A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24, NKJV)

A Friend Indeed

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15, NKJV)

Out of Christendom's some 400,000 hymns, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus." is considered to be one of the top ten. This incredible popularity comes for a hymn that was never intended to be published. Joseph Scriven wrote the hymn in 1855 to send from his home in Ontario, Canada, to his mother in Ireland.

His goal was simply to comfort his mother during a difficult time in her life. It wasn't until 30 years later that the hymn was discovered by a friend who was caring for Scriven in his final illness. Once put in circulation the hymn quickly became a favorite.

Since then millions have sung its words in hundreds of languages and thousands have found comfort in the truth of a saviour who is a friend in every situation. He is a friend who never leaves nor forsakes us.

"There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24, NLT)