Our Friend

An excerpt from Morning Stars – Names of Christ for His Little Ones, a children’s devotional written by Frances Ridley Havergal and published following her death in 1879. Solid Ground Christian Books has recently published a facsimile of the 1881 edition.

From the Preface: A capital piece of advice was given by a man who did a very great deal towards leading people to love and know their Bibles. He said: “When you take your Bibles, you should be always hunting for something!” So I have given you something to hunt for every day. You will see that nearly every time I have quoted a text I only tell the chapter where it is to be found, and leave a little blank space for the verse. Now, not one of you is to consider your copy of the book complete till you have found out all these verses and put them in yourself with a nice fine pen or sharp pencil! So, you see, I have left you to finish the book, and thus given you each “something to do” and something to hunt for, which I hope will be only a beginning of your hunting for a great deal more.

—Frances Ridley Havergal

“This is my Friend.” –SONG. V.___.

Only think of this! Think of the Lord Jesus Himself, whom all the angels of God worship (Heb. i.___),  the King of kings, full of glory and beauty, letting you look up to Him and say, “This is my Friend!” May you really? Yes, really; for Jesus says, “I have called you friends.” (John xv.___.)

It is so nice to have a real friend. Don’t you feel as if you would do anything for your particular friend? Don’t you look forward to being together and telling each other everything? Does it not make it a delightful day if your friend is coming? But “what a Friend we have in Jesus!” A much more real friend than any one else! He thinks a great deal more about you, than the very dearest friend you ever had. He does not come just now and then, and leave you alone between whiles; but He is like a friend that always stays with us, so that any minute we may talk to Him and be happy with Him. Never any “good bye” in this wonderful friendship! (Heb. xiii.___.)

He is such a patient Friend. How very often we grieve Him, and do or say something that we know He would not like, and forget that He is there all the time! (Matt. xxviii.___.) And still He is our Friend, and forgives us, and goes on loving us.

He is such a kind Friend. Has He not been kind to you, now? Just think what you would do if He had not given you all the little mercies as well as the great ones around you! (Isa. lxiii.___.) See how He thinks of everything for you, so that they are new every morning. (Lam. iii.___.)

He is such a wise Friend. He never makes a mistake in anything He sends you or bids you do; even if you do not see at all why He lets something come that you do not like, you may be quite sure He is quite right.

He must be the most loving Friend, because He died for you. He says, “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John xv.____.) That is what He did for you. Can you see it? Look at your Saviour crucified upon the cross, crowned with the sharp thorns, bleeding and suffering unto death for you. Is it not wonderful that you may say, “This is my Friend”?