“We are not a faceless servant obeying His master, but are affectionately called friend by Jesus.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 20, 2021
You are my friends if you do what I command. 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 15:14-15
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 our 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.
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks 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. Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before, because we know our faithful friend a little bit better.
“My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to 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, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Who is an old friend I need to call to check on and not ask for anything?
Related Reading
1 Samuel 20:42; Proverbs 27:6; Matthew 12:50; James 2:23, 3 John 1:5
Worship Resource
We the Kingdom: No Doubt About It
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