The Refreshment of Friends

“Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.” —Acts 27:3

We live in a world that cold, crooked, callous, and cruel. Isn’t it a blessing to have friends you can go to when you’re weary and be refreshed?

In our text Paul was under “house arrest” and under the custody of a Roman centurion named Julius.  This unsaved Roman soldier recognized the importance of Paul being refreshed by his friends. Therefore he gave Paul “liberty to go to his friends to refresh himself.”

In Paul’s epistles he constantly reflected on the refreshment he received from friends (see Romans 15:32; 1 Corinthians 16:18; 2 Timothy 1:16; Philemon 1:20).

I am so grateful for friends who refresh my life.  I have a friend I’ve known for over 40 years who sends me a handwritten note every month.  How refreshing that is. I have another pastor friend who refreshes me every week with a text message that he is praying for me.  I have many other friends around the U.S. who pray for me regularly.  I cannot tell you how refreshing that is to me.  Aren’t you thankful for friends who refresh your life?

What are you doing to “refresh” your friends, or your pastor, or some missionary.  They could use it!  Maybe you should write them a note or send them a text that you’re praying for them.  I know how it would refresh their spirit.

“For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother” (Philemon 1:7).