- Hebrews 10:23–25 - Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
- Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 - Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
At the heart of faithful friendship lies Christ, and love stands at its foundation. Such friendship inspires us to keep our focus fixed on the Lord. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews knew that the path of faith is not a journey to be taken alone. After explaining at length what Christ has done for us, he gives practical advice: Let us hold fast to our hope because God is faithful. Then, he follows with a second call: “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24). Notice how naturally these two calls are connected. We hold onto our hope together and we encourage one another. The Christian life was never intended to be a trial that one must endure alone by their own will. This truth brings great freedom to anyone trying to grow on the path of faith while relying only on their own strength. God gives us His Spirit, His Word, and prayer. But He also blesses us with people: friends, spiritual leaders, and those who walk with us on the path of faith—people who see when we are discouraged, speak the truth in love, pray for us when we lack the strength to pray, and help us reveal a faith more generous than we ever thought possible. In the Christian life, our best friends can do a rare thing: they love us as we are while gently turning our gaze toward Christ. Such a friend is worth finding, and it is worth becoming such a friend to others.
Reflection
Who are the friends in your life that point you toward Christ, and what kind of friend are you to others?
