I WILL STAND STRONG 30 DAY CHALLENGEనమూనా

## True Friends When my (Jason Jimenez) four kids were younger, they would squeeze onto the couch to watch a movie together. But like any normal siblings, there would be the occasional elbowing for room. There were other places to sit, but they preferred sitting together. It was kind of their thing. And so, they’d make room. The same applies to friends. We make room in our lives for those we love. And although it may get testy, or difficult at times—we don’t mind giving up space to those we love. Remember what Jesus said in John 15? Jesus said to His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). The word for love is agape . An unconditional love that keeps on loving no matter what. Likewise, the love of a friend ought to be matched with that same kind of love. A love that cares more about others than it does about self. A friendship built on honesty, commitment and trust. David and Jonathan had one of the best examples of this kind of friendship recorded in the Bible. The Bible says, “He [Jonathan] loved him [David] as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:3). So much so that Jonathan even sacrificed his own throne for David (1 Samuel 23:17). In 1 Samuel 20, we see a friendship between David and Jonathan that consisted of mourning together, being honest with each other, and protecting the safety of the other. Both friends made a covenant to care for the other’s loved ones if one of them died. David kept this covenant after Jonathan’s death (2 Samuel 9). > So, make room for friends in your life. But not just any kind of friends. True friends that will always make room for you. Friends you can trust. Friends who are honest. And friends who remain committed no matter what.