The people who show up.
The ones who stay · Carrying each other · When friends get it wrong · Falling out, making up · Jesus and his friends · Still here · What a friend is
Everyone was told they could go home. Some didn't.
Told my daughters-in-law to go home to their mothers. I'm too old to give them husbands.
Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you loving devotion, as you have shown to your dead and to me. May the LORD enable each of you to find rest in the home of your new husband.” And she kissed them as they wept aloud and said, “Surely we will return with you to your people.” But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands? Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons,
Replying to @naomi
Cried. Kissed you goodbye. Went home.
Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
Where you go, I'll go. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.
But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
He’d only just finished talking with my father, and that was it. I love him as much as my own life. So we’ve made a covenant, a solemn promise of friendship. I gave him my robe and my tunic, my sword, my bow and my belt.
After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.
Replying to @jonathan
The prince’s own sword and bow. On the shepherd boy.
And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.
Elijah and Elisha came through Bethel today, then Jericho. Both times we pulled Elisha aside: you do know the LORD is taking Elijah from you today? Both times: yes, I know. Don’t talk about it.
Shortly before the LORD took Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal, and Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. Then the sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.” And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. Then the sons of the prophets at Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.”
Replying to @prophets.company
Three times he told me to stay behind. The LORD’s sending me to Bethel. To Jericho. To the Jordan. Three times I told him: I swear by the LORD, and by your own life, I’m not leaving you.
and Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.
There's a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Stood up for David at dinner. My father threw his spear at me.
Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!” “Why must he be put to death?” Jonathan replied. “What has he done?” Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to kill David.
Replying to @jonathan
Said as long as David lives, I’ll never be king. Left the table and didn’t eat all day.
For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!” Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger and did not eat any food that second day of the month, for he was grieved by his father’s shameful treatment of David.
Saul hunts David every day. Jonathan finds him anyway, at Horesh, and helps him find his strength in God. Don’t be afraid, he tells him. My father won’t lay a hand on you. You’ll be king, and I’ll be second to you. Even my father knows it.
And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand. While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God, saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.”
Replying to @booksofsamuel
We made a promise before the LORD, the two of us. Then he went home.
So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
We kissed each other and cried. I cried more.
When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together—though David wept more.
Replying to @david
Go. Go safely. We’ve sworn it in the LORD’s name, you and me, and our kids after us, for ever.
And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.
Amalekites attacked us at Rephidim. Moses told me to pick some men and go out and fight. He’d be up on the hilltop with God’s staff in his hand. Copy that.
After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.” Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
Replying to @joshua
While his hands were up, Israel was winning. When they dropped, Amalek was. So Aaron and I sat him on a stone and held his arms up till sunset.
As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed. When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side, so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down.
Four of us, carrying our friend on his mat. He can’t walk. We can’t get anywhere near the door.
Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men. Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat. Just then some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They tried to bring him inside to set him before Jesus, but they could not find a way through the crowd. So they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
Replying to @thefour
Join the queue.
they gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even outside the door, as Jesus spoke the word to them.
He’s just come out of the door. On his own feet. Carrying the mat.
And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, they were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Replying to @cantgetin
That’s our friend.
Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men. And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, they were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Home. Walked the whole way, carrying my own mat, praising God.
And immediately the man stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.
Replying to @tookmymat
We carried him there. He carried it home.
Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men. And immediately the man stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.
Job's friends did the best thing first, and then they started talking.
We saw him from a long way off and could barely recognise him. We just wept. Tore our robes, threw dust in the air over our heads, and sat down on the ground with him. Seven days and seven nights. Nobody said a word. You could see how much pain he was in.
When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust in the air over his head. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw how intense his suffering was.
Job, can I say something? With respect. You’ve steadied so many people when they were falling. Now it’s you, and you can’t cope.
“If one ventures a word with you, will you be wearied? Yet who can keep from speaking? Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands. Your words have steadied those who stumbled; you have braced the knees that were buckling. But now trouble has come upon you, and you are weary. It strikes you, and you are dismayed.
Replying to @eliphaz.of.teman
Think about it. When has an innocent person ever been wiped out? From what I’ve seen, people who plough trouble reap trouble.
Consider now, I plead: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Or where have the upright been destroyed? As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.
I’ve heard all this before. Miserable comforters, the lot of you. I could talk like that too, if you were in my place. But I’d actually try to make you feel better.
Eliphaz the Temanite@eliphaz.of.temanRound two. Does a wise man answer with hot air? Were you the first man ever born? Do you sit in on God’s council?“I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all. Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying? I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you. But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.
Then the LORD speaks to Eliphaz. He’s angry with him and his two friends, because they didn’t speak about him accurately, the way his servant Job did. They’re to take seven bulls and seven rams to Job and make an offering. Job will pray for them.
After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends. For you have not spoken about Me accurately, as My servant Job has. So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.”
Replying to @bookofjob
All three of us went and did exactly what the LORD said. Job prayed for us. The LORD accepted his prayer.
So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD had told them; and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer.
All of us went round to Job’s. His brothers, his sisters, everyone who used to know him. We ate with him and comforted him over everything the LORD had brought on him. Everyone brought a piece of silver and a gold ring.
All his brothers and sisters and prior acquaintances came and dined with him in his house. They consoled him and comforted him over all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. And each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.
Saul’s back in Jerusalem. He’s trying to join us. Says he’s a believer now.
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
Replying to @jerusalem.believer
And you believe that?
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
Took Saul to the apostles myself. Told them all of it. He saw the Lord on the Damascus road, and the Lord spoke to him. And in Damascus he spoke out in Jesus’ name, no holding back.
Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
Replying to @barnabas
If Barnabas says so.
Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
Did you hear Paul and Barnabas have split up? Properly fallen out. Barnabas has taken John Mark and sailed for Cyprus. Paul’s gone off with Silas.
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark. But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
Replying to @antioch.church
It was over Mark. Barnabas wanted to take him. Paul didn’t think he should come, after he’d left them in Pamphylia.
Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark. But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.
Pick up Mark and bring him with you. He’s useful to me in the work.
Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me in the ministry.
Euodia and Syntyche: please, I’m begging you both, agree with each other in the Lord. And you, my true partner there, help these women. They fought side by side with me for the good news.
I urge Euodia and Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow, to help these women who have contended at my side for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Replying to @paul
No because he’s actually named them. In a letter to the whole church.
I urge Euodia and Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.
Ran to him. Threw my arms round my brother’s neck and kissed him. We both cried.
Jacob@jacobAnd there was Esau, with the four hundred. I went out in front of everyone and bowed to the ground seven times as I got closer to my brother.Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
Replying to @esau
You asked what all the animals were for. Said you had plenty, and I should keep them. I made you take them. Seeing your face was like seeing the face of God, you welcomed me so kindly.
“What do you mean by sending this whole company to meet me?” asked Esau. “To find favor in your sight, my lord,” Jacob answered. “I already have plenty, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what belongs to you.” But Jacob insisted, “No, please! If I have found favor in your sight, then receive this gift from my hand. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, since you have received me favorably. Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.
We’ve sent word to Jesus. Just that the one he loves is ill. He’ll know who we mean.
So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.”
Replying to @marthaofbethany
If anyone can help, it’s him.
So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.”
Right. We all go with him, then. So we can die with him.
Then Thomas called Didymus said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
Replying to @thomasthetwin
And we went.
Then Thomas called Didymus said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.” When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already spent four days in the tomb.
Jesus wept.
Jesus wept.
Replying to @johnzebedee
Look how much he loved him.
Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
Nobody has greater love than this: to give up your life for your friends.
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Replying to @jesus
He doesn't call us servants any more. He calls us friends.
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.
His mother is standing by the cross. Her sister too, and Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. I’m with them. He saw her, and me next to her. Here is your son, he said to her. Then to me: here is your mother.
Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.
Paul ended up alone a lot. Not completely.
Everyone in the province of Asia has turned away from me. Everyone.
You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
Replying to @paul
Not quite everyone. Got to Rome, went looking for him, and kept looking till I found him. Took some finding, mind.
Indeed, when he arrived in Rome, he searched diligently until he found me.
Do your best to come quickly. Demas has left me. He loved this world, and he’s gone to Thessalonica.
Make every effort to come to me quickly, because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
Replying to @paul
Only Luke is with me.
Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me in the ministry.
Macedonia was no better. No rest at all. Fights on the outside, fears on the inside. But God, who comforts people who are down, comforted us: Titus arrived. And not just seeing him. He told us how much you miss us, how sorry you are, how much you care. I was happier than ever.
Paul@paul · TroasGot to Troas to preach, and the door was wide open. And I couldn’t settle, because my brother Titus wasn’t there. So I said goodbye and went on to Macedonia.For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus, and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.
Replying to @paul
They were nervous when I got there. Proper fear and trembling. But they did everything that was asked, and I came away with my spirits lifted.
On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. And his affection for you is even greater when he remembers that you were all obedient as you welcomed him with fear and trembling.
Before, he was useless to you. Now he’s useful. To you, and to me.
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
Replying to @paul
My name literally means useful. He knows exactly what he’s doing.
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
So if you count me as a partner, welcome him the way you’d welcome me. If he’s wronged you, or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I’ll pay it back. Not to mention that you owe me your very self.
So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
Replying to @paul
That bit’s in Paul’s own handwriting. He means it.
I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
Some of us walked as far as the Forum of Appius, out on the Appian Way. Others were waiting at Three Taverns.
The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God.
Replying to @rome.church
When Paul saw them coming, he thanked God. You could see the courage come back into him.
The brothers there had heard about us and traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and gave thanks to God.
He knelt down and prayed with all of us. We were all crying, hugging him, kissing him. What hurt most was him saying we’d never see his face again. We walked him to the ship.
When Paul had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept openly as they embraced Paul and kissed him. They were especially grieved by his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
A friend loves at all times. A brother is born for the hard times.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
As iron sharpens iron, one person sharpens another.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Two are better than one. If one falls, the other helps him up. Pity the one who falls with nobody there. Two lying down together keep warm. How do you keep warm on your own? And a cord of three strands isn’t quickly broken.
A man on his own@alone.and.busyNo son, no brother. The work never stops, and it’s never enough. Who am I even doing this for?Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up! Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Nathanael. Dude. We've found him. The one Moses and the prophets wrote about. Jesus of Nazareth, Joseph's son.
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Replying to @philip
Nazareth? Can anything good come out of Nazareth?
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
Liked by Jesus
Lots more I could write, but not with pen and ink. I’m hoping to see you soon, and we’ll talk face to face. Peace to you.
I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink. Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak with you face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send you greetings. Greet each of our friends there by name.
Everyone needs someone who turns up.
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