By Pastor Dennis Morales

Throughout his administration, Abraham Lincoln was a president under fire, especially during the scarring years of the Civil War. And though he knew he would make errors of office, he resolved never to compromise his integrity. So strong was this resolve that he once said, “I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me.”  Proverbs says that a “friend loves at all times” (proverbs 17:17).    True friendship has a tremendous effect in life.  Research says that having strong and stable friendships can help us to manage stress, which can have a dramatically impact on our physical health. If you know that you’ll have people by your side in times of worry, it can make a huge difference when trying to manage the situation.  Jesus spoke highly of both love and friendship.  Jesus said loving one another is a mark of knowing Him.  “Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (Jn 13:35).  As you read the famous 1 Corinthians 13 love chapter, we see words in our language that qualify as descriptors or adjectives.  In the original Greek language, these words are action words.  John 15:13 says “greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”  God, with love in action, sent His Son.  His Son actively loved by sacrificing His life for all mankind (John 3:16), so that we can have the hope of Heaven. 

Calvary Chapel Eastvale meets Sundays at 8:30am and 10:30am, Wednesdays at 7:30pm at Clara Barton Elementary 7437 Corona Valley Ave, Eastvale. www.CalvaryEastvale.org.