welcome to another word of encouragement from the Our Daily Bread devotional Dave Brandon wrote today's reading and he titled it Legacy of friends
 I met him in the 1970s when I was a high school English teacher and basketball coach and he was a tall gangly freshman soon he was on my basketball team and in my classes and a friendship was formed this same friend who had served with me as a fellow editor for many years stood before me at my retirement party and shared about the legacy of our longstanding friendship what is it about friends connected by the love of God that encourages us and brings us closer to Jesus the writer of Proverbs understood that friendship has two encouraging components first true friends give valuable advice even if it's not easy to give or take wounds from a friend can be trusted the writer explains second the friend who is nearby and accessible is important in times of Crisis better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away
 it's not good for us to fly solo in life at Solomon noted in the ecclesiastical for two people are better off than one for they can help each other succeed in life we need to have friends and we need to be friends may God help us love one another with brotherly affection and carry each other's burdens becoming the kind of friend that can encourage others and draw them closer to the love of Jesus
 today's our daily bread devotional scripture reading comes to us from the Old Testament Book of Proverbs chapter 27 verses 6 through 10
 wounds from a friend can be trusted but an enemy multiplies Kisses one who is full loads honey from the comb but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet like a bird that please it's nasty as anyone who flees from home perfume and incense bring joy to the heart and the pleasantness of a friend Springs from their heartfelt advice do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family and do not go to your relative's house when disaster strikes you better a neighbor nearby in a relative far away
would you pray with me now dear God search our heart regarding our friends would you help us to please provide christ-centered Council to them and also to receive Godly wisdom from them and Lord thank you for being our friend and it's in your name that we pray amen
 thanks so much for listening my name is Wes Ward and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries