"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15 (NIV)
During study, I ran across this scripture. It reminded me so much of my childhood. More specifically, it reminded me of bible school and the songs we used to sing. "What A Friend We Have in Jesus," along with "Jesus Loves the Little Children" and "If You're Happy and You Know It" were ingrained in us at a very early age. Admittedly, it was a vague concept back then. Now it is in much sharper view.
Think about the concept of friendship. What types of things are typically associated with it? Surely we must be able to trust, rely upon, confide in and share vulnerabilities with our friends. We enjoy sharing time, triumphs and tragedies with them. If we have a felt need, our friends are typically the first people to whom we go.
Now think of what it must be like to have a friend in Jesus...from Jesus' point of view. He is the creator of all that exists. He willingly took on human flesh and came to dwell with those who would ultimately reject him and play a role in taking his life. It was worth it to him to do so due to his unsurpassed love for us. Whereas we were once slaves to sin and Satan, he redeemed us with his own blood and made us free. Now rather than being slaves, he has accepted us as friends. He who is the ultimate Power, Love and Creator is a close, warm and personal friend. He has invited us to become his friends.
Beloved, our relationship with Jesus should supersede all others. When we think about how we treat and feel about our BFFs (Best Friends Forever), we must think about who our true forever best friend is, what he has done for us and how he made forever possible. Those thoughts should have an impact on everything we think, say and do. We show our friendship to him by obeying his commands. He showed his for us through his ultimate sacrifice. He said, "No man has greater love than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" John 15:13. Indeed, what a friend we have in Jesus.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Friday, August 24, 2012
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
The Ultimate Friend-DD 2/8/2011
"Then Job answered, "I have heard many such things; Sorry comforters are you all. Is there no limit to windy words? Or what plagues you that you answer?" Job 16:1-3
There is not a life that is not touched by pain, inconvenience, difficulty and angst. These can be either remedied or exacerbated depending on what we do in these situations. More specifically, where we seek help can influence the outcome.
Job had several friends that came to comfort him in the time of his greatest despair. In the beginning, they sat in silence and mourned with him. After a while, they began to offer a number of opinions that were, to say the least, not helpful.
Beloved, we must be careful who we trust with our hurts. If our friends and brethren are close, we should know enough about them to know their particular strengths, weaknesses and role in our lives. Not everyone is good at everything. Jesus, among his thousands of followers, selected 12 to be close and 3 to be closest. Even the 3 fell asleep at a critical moment. Make no mistake, we need each other. Our friends can be an amazing comfort and we need to be able to call and rely upon our close inner circle. More than that, however, we need to realize that it is God that will get us through our most challenging times. Job knew that. God does that.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
There is not a life that is not touched by pain, inconvenience, difficulty and angst. These can be either remedied or exacerbated depending on what we do in these situations. More specifically, where we seek help can influence the outcome.
Job had several friends that came to comfort him in the time of his greatest despair. In the beginning, they sat in silence and mourned with him. After a while, they began to offer a number of opinions that were, to say the least, not helpful.
Beloved, we must be careful who we trust with our hurts. If our friends and brethren are close, we should know enough about them to know their particular strengths, weaknesses and role in our lives. Not everyone is good at everything. Jesus, among his thousands of followers, selected 12 to be close and 3 to be closest. Even the 3 fell asleep at a critical moment. Make no mistake, we need each other. Our friends can be an amazing comfort and we need to be able to call and rely upon our close inner circle. More than that, however, we need to realize that it is God that will get us through our most challenging times. Job knew that. God does that.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Friends In Deed-DD 11/23/2010
"Now when Job's three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, they came each one from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and comfort him." Job 2:11
Beloved, we all experience times when things seem to be at the worst. Despite our best efforts (and sometimes because of our worst efforts), we find ourselves walking through the valley of the shadow of death. To be sure, this is a metaphor for difficult times.
We all have our own way of handling these times. John the Baptist, while in prison, sent his disciples to the Lord to inquire whether he was the expected Messiah. Gideon asked for a sign from the Lord. Most of us, however, look to our trusted friends.
When Job was at the lowest of low points, 3 of his good friends came to comfort him. What a blessing friends and brothers can be at times like these. We are told in the word of God that we are to bear one another's burdens. We are also told to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. The truth is, we need each other. We need to know the privilege of serving others when they are in need and the humility of accepting help when we are in need.
Perhaps the greatest example of all was Jesus. In his darkest hour, he was accompanied by three friends. It is true that they slept on the job a bit, but they were there, just as they so frequently had been. May the Lord be thanked for true friends that are there when needed.
In Revival,
Lee
Beloved, we all experience times when things seem to be at the worst. Despite our best efforts (and sometimes because of our worst efforts), we find ourselves walking through the valley of the shadow of death. To be sure, this is a metaphor for difficult times.
We all have our own way of handling these times. John the Baptist, while in prison, sent his disciples to the Lord to inquire whether he was the expected Messiah. Gideon asked for a sign from the Lord. Most of us, however, look to our trusted friends.
When Job was at the lowest of low points, 3 of his good friends came to comfort him. What a blessing friends and brothers can be at times like these. We are told in the word of God that we are to bear one another's burdens. We are also told to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. The truth is, we need each other. We need to know the privilege of serving others when they are in need and the humility of accepting help when we are in need.
Perhaps the greatest example of all was Jesus. In his darkest hour, he was accompanied by three friends. It is true that they slept on the job a bit, but they were there, just as they so frequently had been. May the Lord be thanked for true friends that are there when needed.
In Revival,
Lee
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