Friends

A question was asked in one of my devotionals today, did I know that Jesus was my Friend? I could immediately answer that yes,  I did. I have not doubted that for many years, if indeed I ever did. He has proven it to be so countless times over. Jesus Christ is my friend, and I am thankful beyond words. But then, after answering that question, another came to mind. One that impressed me deeply enough that I had to write it down in my prayer journal. It simply says, "I know that Jesus is my Friend, but to what degree am I His?"

Friendships in the days we now live in are pretty transitory. And shallow. Few are long lasting. The fact that we live in a highly mobile culture is part of the reason, but I think the truth is that we often see friends as those that can help us, or at least help make our lives more enjoyable and rewarding. If that ceases, we simply move on to other, new friends. That this happens in the world is no surprise, but it is found almost as often in the church, which is our shame. I think to some degree, all of us have been guilty of this. 

So, I go back to the question I asked myself; what kind of friend am I to the Lord Jesus? He knows I see Him as my great friend, does He see me as His? What reasons do I give Him for doing so? When we think of what is entailed in true friendship, loyalty, consistency, self-sacrifice, even the laying down of our lives, how much of any of that is involved in our friendship with Him? Fairweather friends are always looked upon with disdain because we know they aren't friends at all. Yet, in our walk with Him, are we more fair weather friends than we are real ones?

Those who come to Christ have been given the greatest gift in all the universe; friendship with the King of kings. None of us are worthy of that, but I think that truth escapes us. I don't think we realize or dwell upon the honor He gives us and how little we value it. He places a value upon us we're not worthy of, yet in return, too often we treat His friendship as having little value at all. How we must grieve Him.

I write this today so that we might all ask ourselves these questions. Scripture says that He is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother. How closely do we "stick" to Him? May it be for me, for you, that when our faces come before Him, His heart is warmed with the knowledge that we are friends who never leave His side or walk away from Him, for that is surely who and what He is to us. He has called us His friends. Looking at the way we live and relate to Him, how are we responding to that honor?

Blessings,

Pastor O