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Day 275 Proverbs 27:5 Proverbs 27:5 Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. No one likes rebuke, but it is easier to handle when it comes from a friend than someone you don’t know. The same is true when someone says something hurtful to you. You can take it from a friend better than you can from anyone else. Solomon said that coming from a friend was better than secret love and kisses from an enemy. Kisses from an enemy comes in the form of flattery. Someone who is always currying favor from someone to get on their good side. Those people are deceitful, dishonest, and unfaithful. As Christians, you are to be honest and open with people, even if it means rebuking them or wounding them. Wounds heal quickly when your friend lets you know where your problems lie. You are more willing to make changes to your life when you know your friend has your best interests in mind. Jesus called his disciples his friends, yet there was one disciple who acted deceitfully, and when it came to Jesus’ crucifixion, it was one of those ‘friends’ who betrayed Jesus to the chief priests with a kiss, Judas Iscariot, who later hung himself for what he did. Matthew 26:47 And while he yet spoke, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. It might be easier to accept wounds from friends, but it is no less painful. You need to be careful that you do everything with love guiding you. Then your friend will accept what you tell him and your friendship will be stronger because your friend will know you will not hold anything back from him. Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (KJV) Be careful what you say and who you say it to, else you will lose a friendship before it is born. Let’s pray: Father, help me not to curry favor from people, but speak what is helpful to those I call friend, knowing that friendship will be stronger because my friend will trust me to always speak the truth in love. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 11 June 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay