March
9, 2003
YOU
ARE MY FRIENDS
"You
are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer
do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his
master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things
that I heard from My Father I have made known to you"
(John 15:14, 15, NKJV).
A friend
is a person who you know well, who you are fond of, an intimate
associate, close acquaintance, a person on the same side of
a struggle, an ally, supporter, sympathizer, etc. There are
many definitions for friends
Friends
have common interests and values, they are there for each
other, they love to spend time and do things together. They
confide in each other. Good friends share personal information
together without fear that it will be used against them or
that their confidence will be broken.
"There
is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs
18:24). Jesus said, "I have called
you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I
have made known to you" (John 15:15). He also
promises to be with us forever (Matthew 28:20). When you get
to know Him, Jesus is the best Friend you will ever have.
He loves you more than life itself. He died for you because
He would rather live with you than without you. He is intimate
with you. You can tell Him all your secrets and He will never
use them against you, but will help you overcome any adversity;
and He will never break your confidence.
He is
the most knowledgeable friend, mentor and teacher you will
ever have. If you follow His advise you will be blessed and
successful. If you ignore His advise you will receive the
natural consequences of your own actions.
As we
allow Him to lead us through life, He will leads us steadily
and securely into the next realm of existence, into an eternal
reality that is reserved for those who chose to love and serve
Him and who accept His values into their lives. Jesus said,
"This is life eternal, that they
may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You
have sent" (John 17:3), and "He
who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves
Me, And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father"
(John 14:21). Knowing God and accepting Him and His values
into our lives is what Jesus came to teach us so that we may
be His friends forever.
Jesus
is the friend of sinners! (Matthew 11:19). Jesus sought the
company of sinners in order to persuade them to accept Him
and His teachings. It was Christ's purpose to open their minds
to see eternal realities, to share a better way of living
and to let men and women know that God loves them so much
that He sent Jesus to share His love, His values and His salvation
with them. Jesus is truly our Friend and He wants to be our
Friend forever.
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