A Friend Loves At All Times

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

Few relationships are reliable and treasured like the one described by King Solomon. Authentic friends who are like family grow fewer as time passes. In contrast, those who either only want you around for a purpose, like a teammate, or a season of life, or just to personify the saying, “misery loves company,” unfortunately grow in number. My father and I wrote about these relationships in The Power of Agreement.

Another saying is that life can make you bitter or better. Life, especially over the last two years, has been used by God to make me a more loving Pastor and a more loyal friend. Friends who show up and who’ve stuck by me in love are appreciated as gifts on this birthday blog.

Many could read their names in this post of appreciation and gratitude. But Mitch Hickman, this post is dedicated to you, brother and a friend!

10 Reason’s why I call Mitch Hickman a brother and friend.

1. He has his priorities straights (Faith, Family, Football)

2. He is the kind of friend who, when everyone runs away from you, he runs towards you! We may go years without talking, but he is there at just the right time. His friendship with my brother Dickie, who fights the battle over health issues, is beyond words. Despite the many years, Mitch has never left his side. Mitch is not just a friend of convenience!

3. He shows up. Doesn’t need an invitation; he expects no red carpet; and isn’t available only if personally invited. When Mitch’s friends need him, regardless of the span of time or how he finds out, he shows up. He is there! He’s there for his family, friends, and those in need. He’s been there for me!

4. Mitch is authentic, even brutally honest. For years, I’ve invited Mitch to come hear me preach on a Sunday, not just for funerals of our childhood friends. His response is simple and profound… “Do you come watch me work my job?! Then I’m not coming to watch you do yours.” Some might take offense to that. I know my Christian brother to be #Real in avoiding religion and only wanting Bonafide relationships. I’m honored you watch and participate in service online!

5. He loves his parents and entire family and honors them. Every single time there’s a need, Mitch is there. I remember when his precious sister Marissa passed away. It was a hard time. Still, Mitch kept her legacy going. He does to this day.

6. Mitch respects my calling as a Pastor. He’s proud of me but is no friend with empty, flattering words.. He always tells me the truth and speaks the truth to me in love. The Bible teaches that a true friend tells you the truth. He wants my best and proves it.

7. Mitch serves others...always. When my friend, Daniel Thurman passed away, Mitch took on the task of unloading his trucks full of tools. Daniel had a successful heating and air business. I pulled up at the family house, and Mitch was sweating and working his tail off unloading this tools. I offered to lend a hand in the back-breaking labor. Mitch’s response was again simple, and maybe a little salty. He said, “You go into that house and do what you do, and I’m going to stay out here and do what I can do.” I shut my mouth and went in and loved the family and planned the funeral.

8. Mitch isn’t jealous or envious. Mitch has never cared that I had other friends, circles, or people in my life. He is not that kind of best friend. He wants what is best for all the people he loves without demanding control or his terms.

9. Mitch held my first born son the night he was born. He models being a great Dad and putting his family first. Mitch was one of the few who didn’t stop being my friend after I became a Dad at 19.

10. He loves me despite my faults. Mitch shows he’s proud of me. He’s proven he’ll defend me. Mitch is most like Jesus when he gives me grace and been forgiving of my failures.

24 years ago, Mitch, you drove all night so we could watch my Florida State Seminoles get beat by arguably the greatest college football team of all time, the 2001 Hurricanes.

24 years later, here we are again. But this time, my three boys and your grown son are part of the treasure of authentic friendship.

Thank you for being a friend at all times and my brother!

The Covenant Demonstrated

You’ve heard it over and over— people who may consider themselves Christian but don’t participate in a local church for one reason or another. Why is that?

One of the top reasons people reject involvement in a faith community is their belief they just don’t measure up and couldn’t possibly be good enough to engage with Christians in a family of faith at a local church.

If that sounds like you, let me introduce you to someone who just might be able to change your mind when you hear his story.

Meet Mephibosheth. Yeah, what was his momma thinking, right?! His name in Hebrew literally means, shame on you! He was crippled in both legs as a child when his home was under attack by an invading army who hated his grandad, the King of Israel, Saul. Mephibosheth’s dad was Jonathan, who died on the same day as his father at the hands of an enemy.

Mephibosheth was cared for by a servant named Ziba, which means no progress in Hebrew. He happened to live in a region called Machir, meaning slavery and in a city, Lodebar, or dry place.

Whew. Yeah. Shame on you was cared for by no progress living in a place of bondage and a dry place. Mephibosheth didn’t seem to have much hope.

But then, something happened. A covenant was exercised. His life changed suddenly and permanently. And all this broken, crippled young man with little hope had to do was to accept an invitation.

You’ve met Mephibosheth. Now, look at the account in 1 Samuel 18:1-5 of his dad, Jonathan, and David. At this point, Jonathan’s dad is King of Israel as appointed by the people. But David was King as anointed by God and would later become King. David and Jonathan were best friends. In fact, they were beyond best friends.

Jonathan loved David as himself and saw what God saw — the right man for the right position to lead Israel. So, the heir apparent to the throne, Jonathan, made a covenant with David. The Hebrew word for covenant is berit, which means to cut, to shed blood for the purpose of a pact, alliance, or binding commitment.

As these two young men cut their own wrists, crossed their forearms to grasp hands, and mixed the blood coming from their voluntary wounds, a bond was formed that transcended the familial relations that occur from genetic prodigy. These men adopted each other as brothers and marked themselves for life to demonstrate the binding nature of their bond.

Jonathan ceded his position of next in line as Saul’s firstborn to be the King. Jonathan awarded to David several key possession, including his robe, bow, & sword – all pointing to the power he also received. Receiving Jonathan’s sword meant, “Who fights you, fights me.” Having the royal robe coupled with the sword empowered David even as Jonathan lived.

The very persona of David continued to grow from a warrior to leader who would be prepared to be King. David became what the people assumed of Jonathan.

Then, as already mentioned, King Saul and Jonathan died on the same day in battle. David ascended to the throne of Israel as to serve as king. 2 Samuel 9 is the account of the demonstrated meaning of covenant in practice, not just words.

Imagine you’re watching King David reach from his prominent chair to the table in grasping the King’s chalice. As he reaches, the shepherd turned warrior turned King sees his exposed wrist as his arm extends. He sees the scar.

He remembers his kinsman and adopted brother. He asks who remains of the house of Jonathan. After the toils and rivalries of war, only Mephibosheth remains. David sends for the man.

When the royal messenger arrived in the region of slavery and the city of the dry place, Mephibosheth had a decision to make. Would he accept the invitation of the King or reject it?

What has your response been to the invitation extended you by the King of kings, Jesus Christ, Whose marked and scarred body testify to His new covenant?

The account in 2 Samuel 9 explains that the crippled man was welcomed to the King’s table and set to dine there from that moment forward. Lands were returned to him that had belonged to his father. Lands were also given to those of Mephibosheth’s household and in his service and companionship.

Do you see it? When we make Covenant with the King, which David was extending to Jonathan’s son, despite our own brokenness and state of disrepair, we have a position in the presence of the King. We dine at His table, receiving His goodness. We are given access and possession of that which belongs to the King. Further, in fulfilling God’s Word in Genesis 12:1-3, the ultimate Covenant made with Abraham and all God’s people, “we are blessed...we bless others...God blesses those who bless us and curses those who curse us.”

Have you received the King of Glory’s invitation? Have you entered into Covenant with Him not only as Savior, but also Promise Keeper? In Christ, believers have a supernatural Covenant that transcends all we could anticipate or appreciate. The abundant life is in Jesus Christ. Accept His invitation and abide.

Listen to my full teaching on “The Covenant."