THINK TOGETHER.
Who do you take advice from?
READ TOGETHER
Proverbs 27:9. Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.
Yesterday we saw that a true friend will tell you the truth even when it hurts. Today our proverb says that a true friend will also make you feel glad with earnest counsel. Back in Solomon’s day wearing oil and perfume would make a person look and feel good. He compares a friend’s counsel to that good feeling.
Notice that the friend is sweet. They aren’t obnoxious, or cruel. Even when they are telling you the hard truth they do it with gentleness. A good friend makes you feel comfortable and safe. You know that they won’t blab or gossip about you.
Then notice that they give earnest council. Council means advice. Earnest means that they really care about you. So the true friend truly cares, they listen to you, they think about what you are saying, they don’t just say what they would do, rather they try to help you discern what YOU should do. How? By asking good questions, and mostly by considering what Jesus would want for you.
Are you this kind of friend? Do you have any friends like this?
If you are a Christian, then you do have a sweet friend who always gives earnest council – the Holy Spirit. When you receive Jesus as your savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of your heart. Jesus called the Spirt our counselor. Our friend who gives good counsel. What good counsel does the Holy Spirit always give? The Holy Spirit always reminds us of just how loved we are by Jesus. That’s his #1 piece of advice – trust Jesus and do what he says because he will never let you down. He’ll never stop loving you. He is like oil and perfume for your soul.
Because of Jesus we always have the Spirit as our best friend to council us.
With Jesus we can be a sweet friend to others and give them good council that points to Jesus.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Practice being good listeners in your home. Take turns talking about your day, including any problems that occurred. Encourage everyone to listen and then think of ways to point to Jesus and his love with what we say.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, help me to listen to the Holy Spirit’s council, and help me to be a good friend who listens and gives council that points to you. Amen.
TLICfamily 