The Kindness of God

by John O’Malley

2 Samuel 9:1–3 And David said... Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him?

Friendship. It is a word that soothes the soul and stirs the heart. It is a word evokes memories that are dear. It is a word that elicits emotions that run deep. It is the one word that offers unconditional acceptance, uncompromising affirmation, and affection.

Friendship was a word David knew. The word was personified in Jonathan, the son of the former king and his arch nemesis, Saul. While other monarchs sought to eliminate the family of the former royalty, it was not so with David. David loved Jonathan. David’s motivation was pure. He wanted to extend kindness to any of the family of Saul. David’s seeking Saul’s family was intended to be an act of mercy, not malice. 

David asked of his servants if there any left of Saul’s house to whom he could show kindness. Of the many word meanings of shew, one synonym stands out. It is the word accomplish. David wanted to accomplish kindness in memory of his friend, Jonathan. 

The average Bible reader knows this story well. It is the story of Mephibosheth. It is a story replete with divine nuances and types. The story is illustrative of God’s love, grace, and adoption in the course of His redemptive path and plan for mankind. 

Yet what captures my heart is not the primary nor secondary meanings in this  passage. Rather, it is a simple statement in verse three.  “And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him?”

David resolved in his heart that he would show the kindness of God to someone of the house of Saul. Yes, I know, the house of Saul. His mind could have been a file cabinet filled with folders of bitterness, bruises, blisters, and bad memories. Yet his heart was a vessel of compassion looking for another vessel into whom he could pour himself in the memory of his friendship with Jonathan. David saw himself as an agent of kindness working for God. He could have sought out someone who would have easily been on anyone’s enemy list; but he didn’t. Instead, in memory of his friend and in devotion to his God, he sought to show divine kindness to anyone of Saul’s house. David saw himself as God’s agent of kindness. 

Is there someone around you who needs to see the kindness of God today? Someone who needs you, on God’s behalf, to go the extra mile, invest no matter the cost, and sacrifice what’s dear, just to display the kindness of God?

The verse is clear. David showed God’s kindness that day. Will you show God’s kindness this day?

Who Do You Hate?

by John O’Malley

Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

This verse seems hard to assimilate. We know the times that Christ instructed us to love each other as believers as well as our neighbors. However, here we have Christ issuing a warning to followers. If you are coming to Christ for service, your love for Him must be so fervent that all others loves will seem as hatred.

However, most people I have spoken to considering God’s call for the ministry have expressed a concern over how others around them may feel if they respond to God’s call. They say, “Well, I would go but my Dad and Mom…” Or “I would go but my Siblings…” Or “I would go but I wanted to do ___________ with my life.” 

Your coming for His service is voluntary. However, there is one requirement: you must love Him more than anyone you know, anything you wanted to do, and anywhere you ever wanted to go! Does this describe your love of Christ? Are you amongst those that will claim your desire to serve him and yet will juggle their life’s loves to keep yourself, your friends, and family happy? Are you amongst those that seek to please your spouse as your chief priority only to abandon Christ?

Is your love for Christ so earnest that all other loves can only be valued as hatred? If not, adjust your relationships to people, places, and things so He is your chief love!

What are you filling your Jerusalem with?

by John O’Malley

Acts 5:28    Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name?   and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.   

Peter and the other apostles had been commanded not to teach, preach, or do anything in the name of Jesus Christ. Yet their hearts were convinced that obedience to God overrode the will and wants of men. The closing verse in this chapter indicates that they ceased not preach and teach.   

However, let us focus on the phrase, “behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.” We too are commanded to reach our Jerusalem with news of His resurrection. Yet how many times have we filled the Jerusalem of our homes, work, and community with news of everything else but His resurrection? We are more apt to fill our Jerusalem with earthly delights instead of eternal doctrine.   

It seems we inform the Jerusalem of our homes, work, and community of the evening news with its hopelessness, rather than the hope of the resurrection. We have spoken more of the weather than His work. We have spoken more of sports than we have of His salvation. Hence, our Jerusalems are being filled with everything but doctrine.   

If the world assessed your life this day, would they say, “He is a regular kind of guy, religious but not too pushy? Our goal is to fill our Jerusalems with doctrine not with delights.  What did you fill the Jerusalem of your home, work, and community with in the last week, Eternal Doctrine or Earthly Delights? 

Fear is the Thief of Faith

by John O’Malley

Psalms 56:3   What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

The Psalmist’s words must be a reminder to us. When fear knocks at our heart’s door, we must increase our trust in Him. He made this promise to himself while in a time of confidence. It was a reminder to himself, a reassurance to his heart, and a rejoinder to heed.

I am reminded that fear takes away my opportunity to please God. My heart’s desire is to please God. I must eschew fear by my confidence in His ability.

Found of Him in Peace

by John O’Malley

2 Peter 3:14   Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.  

In 1999, Our society spent much time discussing the Y2K computer bug. Many a believer was swept into the mania of the moment. Nationally-known teachers (which many have heaped to themselves having itching ears) created a panic amongst God’s people, strangely enough. 

This verse cuts to the very heart of the matter. Peter began this chapter stirring our minds to God’s overall plan for time. He, in our thought for this day, tells us to be diligent, to be found of Him in peace, purity and with proper testimony.   

Every believer must compare his behavior with the Bible. Our behavior in light of His return requires a diligent pursuit of peace. Were Christ return today, would He find you in peace or a panic? Would He find you in purity or spotted? Would He find you with a testimony that is blameless or blamable? In all diligence, make these your priority. 

How would He find you today? 

A Cast-Down Believer?

by John O’Malley

Psalm 42:6   O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore, will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.   

Have you ever seen a person in the throes of despair? His back is slumped. His shoulders are heavy. His eyes seem to be focused on a distant object in another world. His head is held up only by his hands which seem to be powerless. Truly this is the picture of a person who is cast down. Yet should this ever be the picture of a believer?   

In our focal verse, the Psalmist speaks of a soul of a believer that is like the one described above. It seems oxymoronic; a believer, cast down. Yet this is the state that describes many a believer today.    

The Psalmist could not rationalize why his soul would be cast down since he was a child of God. He turned to God and forced himself to remember times three times when God's power was clearly manifested in his life. He identified them for us by naming the places. He lists the land of Jordan, the land of the Hermonites and the hill Mizar. 

These places are where David experienced God's power, protection, and provision. These were the times where David experienced God's riches, rewards, and righteousness. These were situations where David experienced God's grace, goodness, and gifts.    

Is your soul cast down? Why?   

A Chapter of Life

by John O’Malley

2 Samuel 16

If our lives were viewed like a book, there would be chapters that would leave our readers scratching their heads. Some chapters of our lives would contain days where we cast a positive reflection of God. Yet some chapters would cast negative reflection on and of our Lord. There would be days we could say, “I did right.” Other days, “I didn't do so well.” There are days where our lives clearly bring glory to God and other days where our lives bring shame on the name or work of Christ. I am happier with myself on the days I do right and am disappointed when I fail.  

David's life, like many of our lives, has chapters we can be content with and some with which we will not be content. How you handle adversity and adversaries are indicators on how you're doing as a believer. I read this morning in my devotions about a moment in David's life that gave me pause. I reflected on David's response when faced with a moment where he could blow it or choose better. It was a good chapter in David's life; it's a chapter I want to emulate in my own life. 

I'll call this chapter: Choosing the Honorable

David had a person in his life that wouldn't leave him alone. His name was Shimei who accused, attacked, and even abused David. This bitter man, who could not resolve his ill feelings for the demise and downfall of Saul, now makes it his mission to make David's life miserable. You know that there are people God allows in our life who are bitter; they can bring out either the worst or best in us. David was on the run. Absalom, his own son, was solidifying his own position in Jerusalem. David was on the move. He encounters this bitter man, Shimei. The Bible notes that he is from the house of Saul, the man from whom God removed His hand. David and the people are weary. (16:14) 

Notice the behavior of Shimei: v5-9

He came forth cursing. He cursed as he came.

He cast stones at the King. He cast stones at the servants of the king.

David was surrounded by God's people and God's man.

His cursings were nothing more than bringing up his past: misrepresenting his present, and mocking his place and power with God.

Godly men around David said, “Let me kill this dead dog. Let me take off his head.”

David speaks: v10-11

Let him curse. (“My own son wants to kill me: I'll not bother with the likes of him.” 

Let him alone.

Let God work it out. (whether God told him or not)

Keep moving.

When the curses fly.

When the stones are cast.

When the accusations are hurled.

When dust is stirred.

When others have the upper position. (along on the hill’s side over against him)

He Hears Me

by John O’Malley

Psalms 120:1   In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.

A short time ago, I was in an office where there were two moms who had 4 children between them from age 2 months to 3 years old. Each child was engaged in different activities. Occasionally as one child ran into a situation he interpreted as needing his mother’s attention, he began to cry aloud because of his difficulty. 

I was engaged in a conversation with one of the mothers when all of a sudden amidst all the other noises and cries from the other children she said, “Oh, that one is mine; excuse me.

What a precious thought to consider that the billions of people who cry aloud in this earth are all heard in God’s omniscience. However, when the distress of one of His children is uttered, the Heavenly Father hears that one and is attentive to our need.

Have you considered that the Lord of Glory is tuned to your distress frequency? When you broadcast, He is listening. Since Christians are constantly pursuing friends who will listen to them, why not turn to Him instead. You know His listening.

Fat, Dull, and Closed

by John O’Malley

Matthew 13:11-15

When questioned by the disciples about His use of parables, Jesus replied that there were three issues affecting mankind’s ability to grasp Him. He identified a problem not just in His time. He did it by quoting a message by Isaiah generations earlier. This moment of teaching lends valuable insight to modern problems on Planet Earth.

The average believer today has the same failure to grasp Christ. Yes, we have hearts, but we have over-indulged in self and have become fat. True, we have ears, but we have allowed God’s Spirit and Word to be ambient noise we tune out so we can hear what we want. Certainly, we have eyes, but they are closed to seeing anything but our preferred mirrors that we select because of their ability to make us look good.

In this season of over-indulgence, let’s pause and examine our hearts, ears, and eyes. Have these portals to the soul become fat, dull, and closed? May we slim down, sharpen up, and see around us what He would have us to learn. It would be a shame today if we missed His lesson for us today because of being fat, dull, and closed.

A Care Caster

by John O’Malley

I Peter 5:7     Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

Are you a Care-Catcher or a Care-Caster? 

More often than not, most believers actually catch and hold life’s cares.   We are not to catalog, inventory, and review our cares. Believers are not to catch and hold life’s cares.  We have different instructions.

Peter writes we are to be Care-Casters. The cares in your life today over which you fret are not to be managed by you. Our instructions are clear; all our cares are to be cast not caught.

Life will throw cares our way. We can either be a care catcher or a care caster. What is your choice? 

Prepared for Salvation

by John O’Malley

Acts 8:30   And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?   

Phillip was conducting the Samaria Campaign. The persecutions of Saul had God’s people on the move. Jesus’ commission, given before His accession, is now being heeded. Samaria was getting the gospel. Yet God needed to mobilize a man to the desert regions below Jerusalem. This one effort would get the gospel onto the continent of Africa.    

Philip saw the African man God wanted to reach with the gospel. He was riding in a chariot. He was a man of Candace’s palace. He was a man of prestige and purpose. Greater still, he was a man prepared by Holy Spirit for salvation.    

Philip was an evangelist with an inextinguishable burden for souls. Philip’s burden for souls is evidenced by his behavior. He ran to him. He then assessed his situation and preached to him Jesus. (8:35)    

Today there will be people with whom you will come in contact, which God is preparing for salvation. God may have them under conviction by reading a tract or Scriptures or speaking of something they heard on the airwaves or happening with a family member.    

Do as Philip; run to them now; determine what has them searching and say to them, “Are you getting it?”   Then just preach to them Jesus.

Prejudice

by John O’Malley

1 Sam 16:6-7   And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Have you ever considered that sometimes our evaluations of people are extremely superficial, prejudicial, and unfair? You know the routine. A family walks into church. They are wearing nice clothes. The children are well dressed. They pulled into the parking lot in a nice car. Instantly you make up your mind. These people are well off. You walk up to them putting on your best airs about you to make an impression. You are thinking, “These are quality people; we need to keep them.”

Why? Why would we do this? Why would we look exclusively at all the externals and change our behavior? We must realize that, yes, they may have their externals in order, but that must not be the single determining factor in our treatment and expectations of people.

Consider Samuel. In his search for the new man to be anointed king, the first man he encountered, he sized him up solely on the externals. “Oh, look at this one. He is tall. He carries himself so well. Look at the way he handles himself!” Yes, all extremely superficial, prejudicial and unfair. Verse 7 to me is like God snapping His fingers at Samuel and saying, “Don’t get swept up by the externals of people.” 

We too do this today. We accept and reject people based solely on their externals. Why not go back to accepting and rejecting people the way God would. He determines the quality and sincerity of person by his heart.

Found of Him in Peace

by John O’Malley

2 Peter 3:14   Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.    

In 1999, Our society spent much time discussing the Y2K computer bug. Many a believer was swept into the mania of the moment. Nationally-known teachers (which many have heaped to themselves having itching ears) created a panic amongst God’s people, strangely enough. 

This verse cuts to the very heart of the matter. Peter began this chapter stirring our minds to God’s overall plan for time. He, in our thought for this day, tells us to be diligent, to be found of Him in peace, purity and with proper testimony.   

Every believer must compare his behavior with the Bible. Our behavior in light of His return requires a diligent pursuit of peace. Were Christ return today, would He find you in peace or a panic? Would He find you in purity or spotted? Would He find you with a testimony that is blameless or blamable? In all diligence, make these your priority. 

How would He find you today? 

Does God Weary?

by John O’Malley

While preparing a message from the book of Malachi the Lord illuminated Malachi 2:17. 

Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, And he delighteth in them; Or, Where is the God of judgment?

I pondered, “The Omnipotent God said their words wearied Him.” 

How? 

How is it, He who bears every care, He who wipes tears and records them, He who watches sparrows, and He who know the hairs of our head (my head included) said the words of His people wearied Him?

I reflected and researched. I learned: God wearies.  (see the passages below)

I never considered I could weary God. Do you weary God?

Scripture teaches God wearies with five things. He wearies with our wrongdoing, our sin-filled hearts, our spiritless worship, our resistance of His Spirit, and our silly objections.

Did you weary God yesterday? Are you wearying Him today? Last Sunday, did you bring spiritless and lifeless worship? Did you use silly words whining why God had not moved in a matter important to you?

Let us seek His word and ways. Let us evict spiritless formal worship from our lives. When His Spirit leads, follow. When the heathen prosper, don’t whine, remember God is working out His plan.

I do not want to weary Him. Do you?  Leave a comment below and let me know what you think.

______________________________

Below you will find the passages I thought of when I wrote the article above.
1. God wearies with our iniquities. (Iniquities are when I do wrong according to God’s righteousness.) Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, Neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: But thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, Thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. Isaiah 43:24

2. God wearies with our formal Godless worship.  Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: They are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. Isaiah 1:14

3. God wearies with our sin-filled hearts and ignorance of God’s way. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, And said, It is a people that do err in their heart, And they have not known my ways: Psalm 95:10

4. God wearies with our resistance of his Spirit.  But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: Therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. Isaiah 63:10 

5. God wearies with our silly whining, objections, and rebellions. Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, And he delighteth in them; Or, Where is the God of judgment? Malachi 2:17 .

Doing the Will of God from the Head or the Heart?

by John O’Malley

Ephesians 6:5-6    Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;    

Many a child of God has been sent on a guilt trip, from the pulpit, in order to compel them to serve. However, our focal verse says to do God’s will from the heart. You see, a deed or service performed not from the heart, ends with its completion. However, a spiritual deed or service performed from the heart, has a sense of eternal accomplishment.   

God’s will is our Master and we are His servants by grace. His will is our objective. We can carry out assignments with a disposition of duty or delight. The choice is ours. The Holy Spirit here is calling upon servants to be obedient to their earthly masters. This obedience is to be done with fear, trembling, without hypocrisy, and unto Christ. Furthermore, we should do their pleasure not only when our Master’s eyes are upon us.    

You see, a servant is to consider himself a servant of Christ. He is to view his servitude as doing the will of Christ from the heart. 

Broken Hearts Fixed Here

by John O’Malley

When your heart is breaking with stress, sadness, and struggles, you should consider what the Word of God says about having a fixed heart. 

A heart that is fixed is a heart that is settled within and resolute without. It is not affected by external conditions and extenuating circumstances. David wrote four times in three places about a heart that was fixed.

1828 Webster Dictionary defines, "fixed" as settled; established; firm; fast; stable.

What is the behavior of a fixed heart?

Psalm 57:7 "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise."

Psalm 108:1 "O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory."

Psalm 112:7 "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD."

The fixed heart proclaims its decision to God. 57:7 (he is telling God)
The fixed heart promises to declare praise and song. 57:7
The fixed heart participates in praise with all his worth. 108:1c ("even with my glory")
The fixed heart is peace-filled in the midst of stress. 112:7 (fearing bad news)
The fixed heart is pleased in God's ability to fix it all. 112:7("trusting in the Lord.")

Cry Yet!

by John O’Malley

Zechariah 1:17    Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts…   

Many times in the ministry, we encounter an unhearing, unheeding, and unyielding people. Zechariah faced a lazy, listless, and lackadaisical people. His field was full of people who came out of the captivity, laid a foundation to the temple, and stopped working. Their malaise lasted 16 years. During this time, there was no building, no battling, and no blessings for God’s people.   

Zechariah’s contemporary Haggai had been called two months earlier to the same field. Their ministries were similar. Preach to a people who lack the desire to accomplish anything for God. Preach to a people who have strayed and drifted from God’s word, work, and will. They were to preach the people to obedience.   

It is the preamble of this verse that captures my attention as I consider the work of God's people today. God calls upon Zechariah to “Cry yet.” Many a believer has been tempted to end his preaching to a people who seem to have no interest in surrendering, serving or standing for God.    

We can take courage from God’s charge to Zechariah. Have you a field that is full of unhearing, unheeding, and unyielding people? “Cry yet!” Have you a people drifting, discouraged, and defeated? “Cry yet!” Have you a place of service that seems to be forgotten, forsaken, and frustrating? “Cry yet!”   

“Cry yet!” What a challenge for all. We must “Cry yet!” because we have His Call. We must “Cry yet!” because we have His Commission. Simply, we must “Cry yet!” because of His Compassion!   

Difficult days, difficult fields, and difficult experiences do not preclude us from the task before us. Together, let us determine until His return to “Cry yet!”  

Is Being Overwhelmed Worth it?

by John O’Malley

Do you know how it feels to be overwhelmed? You know where the weight of your own problems are about to crush you, then one of your kids calls or an aging parent calls and you find out a new level of overwhelm.

Do you realize, God is never overwhelmed. Never once since time began, did God become overwhelmed. Never once before time began was God ever overwhelmed. God does not get overwhelmed. 

When God invites us to cast our cares on Him, we should. The very face the Judge of the whole earth asked me to tell him what overwhelms me should be enough for me to do so.

What overwhelms you? Why manage it yourself? He exchanges your overwhelm for His care.

1 Peter 5:7 “…casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Treasures in your Sack

By John O’Malley

Genesis 43:23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

Joseph came from a dysfunctional family. There were sibling rivalries, rejections, and false accusations. Due to unresolved issues from childhood, Joseph's brothers despised him. 

The plot of Joseph's story was not just about dysfunction. Joseph's story had a subplot. The subplot was the story of Divine providence. Our verse today brings us a moment in the life of Joseph that brings the plot to light.

Divine providence placed Joseph in the proper place at the right moment. God arranged for Joseph to be in the position to sustain and secure God’s people before a famine. Now in the midst of a famine, God brings Joseph’s past to the present. His brothers arrive and he must deal with them. 

Human imagination can easily fill the task list of things he could do to them. Retaliation, retribution, and recrimination all seem justified. However, while any of these may come to Joseph’s mind, they are not what he chose to do.

Instead, Joseph chose to let God overrule his human reasoning. Character and submission to God’s will have a way of producing that kind of choice. He chose to bless his brothers who had misled their father, maligned his name, and seemingly misdirected his life’s path. Joseph did so by giving God the glory in his stewardship of the matter.

Joseph could have easily reconciled any decision to retaliate on his brothers. However, he did not. Joseph rose above life’s injustices. His compassion transcended his sibling’s mistreatment of him. His character buoyed him in a sea of false accusations.

Joseph had his brothers escorted to his house. Surely, the brothers feared that the events of the past had returned to haunt them. The images of lies to their father, the mistreatment of their brother, and the betrayal of family for money all must have run through the cinema of their minds.

Joseph’s house steward allayed their fears with a statement that represents divine providence, protection, provision, and promise. The steward told the men, “God gave you treasures in your sacks.” He explained Joseph’s ruse. Their hearts were comforted and shortly Joseph’s identity was revealed. 

The steward of Joseph makes a wonderful point worth noting. He told them their bill for the food they received was paid. There was more than food in the sacks they carried. In their sacks were both earthly and eternal treasures. The steward identified it was God –– their God and their Father’s God –– who placed those treasures in their sacks. Truly the steward’s statement is a statement of God’s gift, goodness, and grace to unworthy travelers. 

God puts treasures in our sack. Our sacks contain treasures that represent God’s gifts, goodness, and grace to us. You’re right; we don’t deserve such treasures! But our Savior loves us unconditionally. What great treasure!

I encourage you to look through your sack and rejoice in the treasures He’s left for you. Perhaps it will be the treasure of His Word; maybe it will be the treasure of his presence or miraculous provision you’ll discover. No matter the discovery, just enjoy and embrace His treasures for you today.

What? You say you have no treasures today? You say you only have sacks of burdens? I say you know not of which you speak! Your burden is laden with treasures. Look again I say! Look again and discover His treasure in your sack.

When You Can Remember

By: John O'Malley 

Proverbs 10:7   The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. 

God allows us this wonderful tool of memory. The ability to recall events, emotions, and the friends associated with those thoughts is a gift from God. 

Can you imagine if you had no ability to recall something, someone, or somewhere? Can you envision a life that existed only in the present and without any recollection? Can you fathom what a life without memories would be?

I am grateful that God allows us to sort through fond and precious recollections of dear ones who’ve completed their earthly sojourn. The recollection of friends who’ve gone before us is like taking a few steps up into our mind’s attic to reflect on memories shared and moments experienced. Your moment to reflect upon friends may bring smiles, laughter, tears, and warmth. These recollections are precious.

The Holy Spirit made clear to us in this verse that, “The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.” I am glad that the fond recollections of your friend are blessed recollections; it indicates they were just. Conversely, a wicked person's name rots with them. 

If you reflect fondly upon a friend, family member, or colleague, remember this: you're able to do so because they were just. Thank God for the gift of memory. Thank God also for the influence your loved one had on you and yours.