Daily
Devotional

Many years ago, a man named Joseph Scriven was born in Ireland. He discovered early in life how much he needed One who could give him help in times of need. When he graduated from college, he was a Christian, looking forward to marriage with the girl he loved. However, on the eve of his wedding, his fiancée accidentally drowned. He was devastated, and things only got worse. Because of his own health problems, he was unable to continue the military training he had planned to do after graduation.

Scriven finally moved to Canada at the age of twenty-five, and there he became known in his community as a “Good Samaritan.” He cared about those around him, those who were in need, and the down and out. He even gave the clothes off his back to the poor, and shared his own food with those who were without.

One day he received a letter that said his mother was very sick. It had been ten years since he had kissed her good-bye and left for Canada, but he did not have enough money to go back to Ireland. He wanted to encourage her in some way, so he prayed and asked the Lord to help him pen the right words to her. God inspired him to write a beautiful poem.

A neighbor happened to be in Scriven’s room one day and saw the poem on the night stand. He read it, and asked who had written the beautiful words. Scriven replied, “The Lord and I did it between us.” Later, the words of that poem were put to music, and the song “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” has brought comfort to untold millions since then.

When we approach God in prayer, we are told we can come boldly to the throne of grace. We can come with assurance because Jesus Christ, as our High Priest, is also our Friend. He is acquainted with human weakness and frailty, for He too was once a man. Now He stands by, willing to extend mercy and give us help in our time of need as no one else can.

What a Friend we have in Jesus!