A NEW MORNING AND AWAKENED TO NAUSEA, WEAKNESS, DEEP FATIGUE, EXHAUSTION, WEAKNESS OF BODY, PAIN, DIFFICULTY SPEAKING, bed ridden, the aftermaths of the long flights to hospital seem to be catching up. And with it the need to get my mind on things above, and with it and some reading, awakened to the thought of the Friendship of Jesus, and How I need Him today- a FRIEND, to confide in, and help me, and with that my mind goes to the FRIENDSHIP OF JESUS… Hope it encourages you.

“The idea of being the friend of God has also a background. Abraham was the friend of God (Isaiah 41:8). In Wisdom of Solomon 7:27 Wisdom is said to make men the friends of God. But this phrase is lit up by a custom which obtained both at the courts of the Roman Emperors and of the eastern kings. At these courts there was a very select group of men called the friends of the king, or the friends of the Emperor. At all times they had access to the king: they had even the right to come to his bedchamber at the beginning of the day. He talked to them before he talked to his generals, his rulers, and his statesmen. The friends of the king were those who had the closest and the most intimate connection with him.

Jesus called us to be His friends and the friends of God. That is a tremendous offer. It means that no longer do we need to gaze longingly at God from afar off; we are not like slaves who have no right whatever to enter into the presence of the master; we are not like a crowd whose only glimpse of the king is in the passing on some state occasion. Jesus gave us this intimacy with God, so that he is no longer a distant stranger, but our close friend.”- {Barclay}

 

WHAT TYPE OF FRIEND IS JESUS?

1. – He is an EVERLASTING Friend;
Before I knew Him, He knew me and He loved me with an everlasting love -{Jer 31:2-3}, “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us….We were ungodly, sinners, enemies and yet His friendship was at work, while we sat in spiritual darkness, ignorance, our Friend was working from of OLD. He who knew no sin became sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him… while we were His enemies, despising Him sitting in spiritual ignorance and deadness of sin, this OLD Friend was at work for our good and the cross the goal to rescue us, the resurrection the proof of His offering accepted and in time His conviction and conversion and to awaken our souls that we were no longer strangers and aliens to Him but friends of God because this OLD Friend, “…laid down His life for His friends”-{John 15:13]
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2. – He is a FAITHFUL Friend –“Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”-{Prov 27:6}
His love at times informs and corrects, not out of vindictiveness but always with love and for our highest good against that which is out of harmony with His will, and ways, and hurtful to us and dishonoring to Him and so His Spirit and Word speak to us at times like the church in Rev 2;14, “I have a few things against you.” And with it He informs and directs us to the right way, and so by His tenderness and empowering we make the change and begin a fresh because He loved us and is faithful to show us the way …

3. – He is a PRESENT TENSE LOVING Friend –“a Friend LOVES at ALL TIMES.”- {Prov 17:17} There is never a time when He does not love you. Never! No one nor nothing can sever His intense constant love for you. {Read Rom 8:31-39; Eph 2:5 ;Rev 1:5-6}. Troubles do not cause Him to do a runner as Peter and the disciples and as we have often done. His love is steadfast, unchanging, committed, His death the proof. Our sin does not cause Him to withdraw His FRIENDSHIP, for He says, “we have an Advocate with God Jesus the righteous… and the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from all unrighteousness.” His love has made and makes provision for us in every place we find ourselves and His promise, “I will never leave nor forsake you” is a testimony of the LOVE of JESUS for …YOU! In John 15:10 He calls us to “REST IN MY LOVE!” His love is motivation to TRUST HIM,” “…the life I live I live by faith In The Son of God loved me and gave Himself up for me”-{Gal 2;20} and inspiration to TESTIFY OF HIM…” The love of CHRIST compels us.”{2 Cor 5;14}. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”-{John 15:13}

4. – He is An EMPATHETIC Friend;
“We have a great [“superior”] High Priest who empathizes, the word means “to feel the very feelings you feel.” He can empathize with our weakness and temptations and bids us to come confidently, reverently consistently to His Throne of grace to RECEIVE Mercy, grace and help in time of need-{Read Heb 4:15,16}. “He ever lives to intercede for us…, He knew the full blast of satanic temptation yet without succumbing to sin and so who but Him can identify compassionately, and conquering so to aid and help us in our own time of need. And he says come to Him, He is always praying for us, Our Advocate with God. And all His prayers are answered.

His Grace to save, sustain, suffer, serve, all at His disposal as He pours sufficient grace into us, unending grace, moment by moment grace for He says, My grace IS- Present tense- Sufficient for you!”{2 Cor 12:7-10}. “A Man of sorrows ACQUAINTED with grief.” Pain is not unusual or unknown to Him. He knows rejection, for He came to His own and His own received Him not. He has been tempted in all things yet without sin. We can confide in Him, one friend to another and know He understands and feels the very feelings we feel, when we can at times feel we cannot articulate, He knows, He cares, He is for us- always. One friend confiding in another and knowing our conversations are safe with Him. He never gossips or slanders, mocks or makes fun of our difficulties but bids us come receive mercy, grace and, I love the way this is written, it is for “the needy ones” who may come to His throne, not of condemnation for HE BORE IT ON TH E CROSS, but throne of GRACE, Kindness, power,Help, Divine favor, and sits upon it is not only the SOVEREIGN LORD, but our FRIEND, who calls us FRIEND! What a Friend we have in Jesus all our sins and griefs to bear, what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!”

5. – He is SOVEREIGN Friend; “All authority has been given Him in HEAVEN AND EARTH… and every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of God.” Every circumstance, person is ultimately under His control and all history culminates at His feet in submission to Him- none excluded. He holds the keys to life and death. Fear not him who can kill you but Him who has the power to cast your soul into Hell… To choose friendship with this world which is enmity with God is to make a foolish and eternally damning choice, “BUT GOD…” we appeal to Him on behalf of others. Saul of Tarsus raging out threats was interposed by the LORD Jesus and life was changed, Christ was His life, the suicidal jailor was kept from doing himself harm and through the message was turned round so that he and all his family were rescued form eternal damnation to newness of life in Christ, the Friend of Sinners stepped in to rescue and so we appeal to Him who said “it is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance Christ Jesus came into the world to SAVE SINNERS…” And He calls us to co labor with Him-“The harvest is white the labors are few PRAY to the LORD of the HARVEST TO SEND FORTH LABORERS INTO His harvest….” Go into all the world… preaching repentance for the forgiveness of sins…”

6.- HE is a PERSONAL Friend;
We all have acquaintances, people we “know” to see, chat with but not many “friends” in whom we confide with , knowing our hearts are safe with them. But in Him we have such a Friend, who always has our highest good at His center,{Read Rom 8:28-29}
He CALLS me His friend! This is a title of His towards His own including you and me..but more than a title, it is commitment, an affection, a love of eternal warmth.

The word “Friends,” is the Greek word, “Phileo,” speaks of “esteem, high regard, tender affections” for another.

It is a term of endearment, a warm tender heartfelt affection for you. He likes you! A relationship of intimacy and warm tender eternal affection for you!

 

We are who He says we are. To live otherwise is not humility but pride and to deny and disown Him as untrustworthy, indeed unbalanced, lacking wisdom and integrity. We often do this as we base our “worthiness” which is an affront to His Work and grace, as we seek to somehow work up to some false standard that we are “worthy” to be acceptable a His friend. Somehow earning, and deserving of that title as we appeal and show Him our ‘good works”. Where we present our works His grace is nullified, His cross is insufficient and He is a deficient Savior, WHEN WE BEHAVE SO. YOU ARE NOT ACCEPTED FOR YOUR PERFORMANCE BUT BECAUSE OF HIS PERFORMANCE YOU ARE “…The BELOVED of God… ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED-{Rom 1:7; Eph 1:6}… according to the KIND intention of His will”- It is by His doing ALONE He has set His love upon you can He calls you FRIEND! It is unchanging, forever settled. You are by His doing and declaration His “friend!” What so you think of Him?

HOW TO PARTICIPATE;
A. – PRAY- ASK THE LORD TO HELP YOU SEE WHO HE SAYS YOU ARE. CHOOSE TO TRUST HIM AND SAY ABOUT YOURSELF WHAT HE SAYS

B. – PRAY – ASK THE LORD TO HELP YOU TO PRAY FOR THREE OTHER PEOPLE THIS MOMENT, THAT THEY MAY SEE WHO HE SAYS THEY ARE, AND WALK IN THAT FRIENDSHIP. PRAY THAT THEY WOULD CHOOSE TO TRUST HIM AND SAY ABOUT THEMSELVES WHAT HE SAYS –“ HE CALLS ME FRIEND….I AM A FRIEND OF GOD!”

C. -PROCLAIM
STATEMENT OF FAITH- SPEAK TO YOURSELF- what is true of you!
* I AM WHO HE SAYS I AM
* I AM ONLY WHAT AND WHO HE SAYS I AM
* I AM A FRIEND OF JESUS CHRIST, By His doing!

D. – REST
Rest in the truth of who He says you are. Receive by faith this truth which is settled in heaven and is for you

PERSONALIZE; He is an OLD Friend, but more than that, you and I can say, He is “MY” OLD Friend…MY, FAITHFUL. LOVING, EMPATHETIC, SOVEREIGN, PERSONAL Friend.

“I HAVE CALLED YOU FRIENDS….”-{John 15:15},

Sometimes I awake and the chronic, debilitating pain from the disease “greets” me with thoughts to dishearten me and if I can by God’s grace get my mind on Him, His Word and at times I write down my thoughts it helps me set my affections on things above and gives me a “break” from the difficulties. And in the end my mind can think on Him…. “He whose MIND is stayed on Him is kept in perfect peace because HE trusts Him”{Isaiah 26:3,} is the verse that comes to mind, so we ask Him,”LORD Help me to get my mind stayed upon You for You have promised perfect peace to the one who does and who trusts You. LORD, Help me to trust You to help me trust You, this moment”… and often as a result, out of my own troubles comes forth these devotionals and I hope this day may encourage you, THE FRIEND OF JESUS!