Proverbs 27:6 NKJV

[6] Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Some of the hardest things I have ever had to hear came from my closest friends. They weren't looking to affirm me. Their intentions weren't to preserve our friendship. They put me on the spot and called me out. They corrected me without fear of destroying our friendship... because they loved me.

Somewhere along the way, we have lost sight of the meaning of friendship. I true friend has an obligation to be brutally honest. My real friends do not have to be agreeable with me. Jesus didn't look for ways to be likeable. He spoke truth to all people. It is received by those willing to listen and receive. Truth is the one thing that can hurt and not require an apology because of love.