Being A Faithful Friend To Jesus
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesPoet Claude Mermet once made this astute observation: “Friends are like melons; let me tell you why: To find a good one, you must one hundred try!”
Most of us can identify with that observation, because it’s indeed difficult to find good and faithful friends.
But have we ever wondered if God ever feels that way about us? Out of all the people in the Old Testament, only one was ever called His friend. In Isaiah 41:8, God says that He chose Jacob, who was an offspring of “Abraham My friend” (cf. 2 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23).
That’s a very exclusive club, isn’t it? So, imagine how shocking it must have been for Jesus’ disciples to hear Him say, “No longer do I call you servants ….. but I have called you friends” (John 15:15).
As His disciples today, our Lord is saying the same thing to us as well. What does being friends with Jesus mean? It first begins with commitment. Jesus stated:
“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14).
Then He added the dynamic of communication. He promised to tell us all that the Father has told Him (John 15:15-NKJV). The question is: “Are we listening?”
And as His friends, we are to bear fruit (John 15:16), sharing a commonality with Him by reflecting His glory in our attitudes and actions (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Jesus has provided us the privilege of being friends with Him! The question is — are we His faithful friend? (John 15:14; Revelation 2:10).
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear,
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer. —C.C. Converse
Related Articles:
- To Be A Best Friend
- What Does Jesus Mean To Us?
- To Have A Friend, Be A Friend!