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  document.writeln("<span class=\"body\"><b><span class=\"headings2\"><span class=\"actsititle\">The Love of Friends </span></span></b><br>");
  document.writeln("<span class=\"actsilinks\"><a href=\"#\" onclick=\"window.print()\">Print this page</a></span>");document.writeln("<br><div id='actsartcl1'>");document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\"><i>Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.<sup>1</sup></i><o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\"><i>When Jesus saw her (Mary) weeping, and the Jews who had");
document.writeln("come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. \"Where have you laid him?\" he asked. \"Come and seem Lord,\" they replied. Jesus");
document.writeln("wept. Then the Jews said, \"See how he loved him!\'€<sup>2</sup></i> <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\">Relationships were, and continue to be, important to Jesus.");
document.writeln("During his time on earth, he was constantly in connection with the people");
document.writeln("around him, but he had special friendships that the Bible speaks of as well, in");
document.writeln("which he invested quality time. This was the case with his friends, Martha,");
document.writeln("Mary, and Lazarus. These siblings lived in Bethany, and were disciples of");
document.writeln("Jesus. He loved them and the memories");
document.writeln("they would create together would be unforgettable! <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\">Martha and Mary had the privilege of experiencing the grace and unconditional love of God firsthand, which was something that not many women");
document.writeln("experienced in those days. When Jesus visited, Mary was the first to sit at his");
document.writeln("feet and although Martha\'€™s gift of hospitality sometimes caused her to lose");
document.writeln("sight of the important things, the times Jesus spent with his friends was");
document.writeln("special for all. <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\">When Lazarus fell ill, his sisters quickly sent word to");
document.writeln("Jesus saying, \'€œLord, the one you love is sick\'€, yet Jesus was going to use this");
document.writeln("for God\'€™s glory. The death and resurrection of Lazarus was going to be used to");
document.writeln("bring many to a personal relationship with Jesus. Although Jesus knew the");
document.writeln("bigger plan with the sickness and death of Lazarus, Mary and Martha did not know at");
document.writeln("the time, so the sadness and grief was real. When Jesus arrived and saw his friends");
document.writeln("weeping, he shared in their pain and cried with them. His compassion for his");
document.writeln("friends was tangible, and that was a testimony of his love to those watching. <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\">As Christians, we know that everything in our lives happens");
document.writeln("as part of the bigger plan God has for us. It may be painful in the moment, but God");
document.writeln("can use our pain for something greater when we allow him to. This is our hope,");
document.writeln("and is what we should strive to share with our friends as well. The love we");
document.writeln("show to others, especially in times of suffering, can be the greatest testimony");
document.writeln("of who Jesus is and our relationship with Him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\">Suggested prayer: Dear God, help me be a channel of your");
document.writeln("love to my friends, and all those you place in my path. Even in times of grief,");
document.writeln("may my faith and hope in you draw others to a personal relationship with you.");
document.writeln("Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen. <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst\" style=\"text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1\"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;");
document.writeln("mso-fareast-font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"mso-list:Ignore\">1.<span style=\"font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\">John");
document.writeln("11:5 (<i>NIV</i>). <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpLast\" style=\"text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1\"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;");
document.writeln("mso-fareast-font-family:Arial\"><span style=\"mso-list:Ignore\">2.<span style=\"font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\">John");
document.writeln("11:33-36 (<i>NIV</i>). </span></p><p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpLast\" style=\"text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1\">&nbsp;</p>");
document.writeln("<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:");
document.writeln("&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif\">Today\'€™s Encounter was written by: Crystal B. <o:p></o:p></span></p>");
document.writeln("<br></div>");  document.writeln("</div><hr /><span class=\"body\"><p class=\"actsicopyright\"> </p>");
  document.writeln("<p style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 10pt;\">This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes <a href=\"http://www.actsweb.org/archives.php\" target=\"_blank\">can be read online</a>.<br><br>Copyright &copy; 1990 - 2026<br /><a href=\"http://www.actsweb.org/\" target=\"_blank\">ACTS International</a></p>");
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