When Friendly
What did Jesus say about being our friend?
“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 15:15 NIV)
What did Jesus say about being His friend?
“You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:14 NIV)
Qualities of friendship
A friend loves continually - A friend loves at all times....” (Prov. 17:17 ESV)
A friend faithfully tells the truth, even when it’s painful - “Faithful are the wounds of a friend...” (Prov. 27:6 ESV)
A friend covers an offense and keeps confidences - Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” (Prov. 17:9 ESV)
A friend adds strength and lifts up – “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” (Eccles. 4:9-10 ESV)
The best friendship is with God
“And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.” (James 2:23 ESV)
How to become a friend of God
“The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” (Psalm 25:14 ESV)
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV)
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12 KJV)
“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph. 3:17-21 ESV)
Therefore…
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-14 ESV)
“He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.” (Prov. 22:11 ESV)
Quote:
“The most important aspect of Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain (with God) and the surrounding influence and qualities produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to give our attention to, and it is the one thing that is continually under attack.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest