I Have Called You Friends Because…

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I Have Called You Friends Because…

To have a real friend  is a life long experience.     Sure  there are many  that we can be friendly with  and appreciate  for various reasons.     But,  a real friend is one  who honestly cares,  keeps you in their prayers,  offers to help  in time of need,  has the  same  values,   joys,   and purpose  in life.     A real friend  shares  their deepest thoughts,  desires,  and feelings.     A real friend is faithful  throughout one’s life,  even though separated  by many miles.

Jesus spoke  to His disciples  about His friendship  with them.     There He was — God Almighty  come down  to this earth  to suffer and die  for our sins — and He’s talking  about their relationship  of being real friends.     That is,  God Almighty  being a real friend  to the human beings  He created.     A part  of what Jesus said is  in John 15:13-16,

Greater love has no one  than this,  that one lay down his life  for his friends.     You are My friends,  if you do  what I command you.

No longer  do I call you slaves;  for the slave  does not know  what his master is doing;  but I have called you friends,  because   all things  that I have heard  from My Father  I have made known  to you.

You did not choose Me,  but I chose you,  and appointed you  that you should go  and bear fruit,  and that your fruit  should remain.

Jesus has done all things  to build a relationship — a friendship — with us.     He willingly suffered  and died  to pay  for our sins.     Are we willing  to suffer and die  for the sake  of our friendship  with God?     Do we show  our friendship  with Jesus  by holding the same values,  joys,  and purpose  that He has?

Jesus told us why  He calls us friends.     He said  it is “Because  all things  that I have heard  from My Father  I have made known  to you.”      In other words,  Jesus has shared things  with us  from the very depths  of His heart.     One might ask,  “What did He say?     What did He share?”     Many  of the specific words  Jesus shared  are given to us  in the four gospels,  Matthew,  Mark,  Luke  and John.     But,  in actuality,  all of the Bible  is God  sharing the depths  of His heart  with us.     That’s where we meet  our Friend,  Jesus.

When we read the Bible,  God’s love  for us  is expressed powerfully.     As God speaks  to us  in His word,  we can see and realize  the utter faithfulness  of His love  since the beginning  of time.     Then,  when Jesus walked this earth,  He taught everyone  how God feels  about us.     Jesus revealed  that our heavenly Father longs  for us  to return  to Him.     Jesus demonstrated  that God wants  to heal us  of all our sins  and lead us  in the everlasting way.     He showed  how God Almighty  willingly condescended  to this earth  so that we might be redeemed  to be His friends forever.

Are we listening  to our very best Friend,  Jesus?     As Jesus expresses His love  for us,  are we even paying  any attention  to what He is saying  to us?     What kind  of friend  are we?     Can we even  be considered  a real friend?

We need  to work  on our relationship  with the dearest Friend  anyone could ever hope for.     We can start  by listening  to His word;  spending time  in prayer;  sharing His joy,  values,  and purpose — just having the same kind  of heart  Jesus has — for His name’s sake.

Jesus has chosen us  to be His friend.     Now it’s time  for us  to go and bear fruit  for Him.     This is not the time  to give up  and let our friendship  with the Lord  die.     Our Friend is here  to help us  and encourage us  in the truth.     Let us open our eyes  and look up  to Him  for all our needs.     He is our Friend  in every need.

Walking  hand in hand  with our Lord,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord Jesus,  thank You  for being so faithful,  even when I’ve been so weak.     Your love  never ends.     Help me  to be a true friend  to You.     Make me aware  of all the loving things  You have done  for me,  so that my heart  will be enlarged  toward You.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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