FAITHFUL FRIENDS Wisdom Hunters Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. John 15:14-15 I recently wept when a friend died. He was not a close friend, but a friend nonetheless. His life stood for decency, common sense and compassion. I attended his funeral and once again was overcome by moments of emotion: both joy for his friendship with Jesus and grief for him being gone. I learned through my loss that friends mean something. And when I lose someone, I seem to appreciate them even more. Faithful friends are a gift from God--not to be taken for granted. Jesus describes those of us who love and obey Him as His friends. We are not just faceless servants obeying His master, but we are affectionately called friends by our Lord Christ. Many children who grow up in the faith intently understand, “What a friend we have in Jesus.” Hence, as we grow older as followers of Jesus, we are meant to keep this childlike expression of friendship with Jesus. He’s our faithful friend, ever present to listen to us and to love us. “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 Do your friends find you faithful, especially in their time of need? Perhaps there is a precious friend who needs your extra attention. In the past you have leaned on them, but now they need your shoulder to cry on and your prayers to support them. Even the most solid Christian need not suffer alone. Or a friend may need a voice of reality to remind them where they came from. True friends do not shy away from being a loving truth teller. Faithful friends speak up, even at the risk of the relationship. By God’s grace a tested friendship grows into a stronger friendship. Because of our companionship with Christ, He makes known to us His Father’s heart. If we want to know the will of our heavenly Father, we go to His son Jesus and learn of Him. Because of our growing friendship with Christ, He continues to reveal to us the deep secrets of God. Like all relationships, the more we get to know one other, the more we understand each other. Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before, because we know our faithful friend a little bit better. “My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.” Job 16:20 Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for my faithful friend, Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Grow me into a faithful friend to my friends. Related Readings: 1 Samuel 20:42; Proverbs 27:6; Matthew 12:50; James 2:23, 3 John 1:5
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 13:12:41 +0000
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