How do you measure what a friend is? Are your friends people you get along with? Are your friends people who empower you and help you develop your knowledge and leadership? Are your friends people who make you laugh and have fun?
Our standard for friendship, often, looks very different from the standard God set through Jesus. In John chapter 15 verses 13 and 14, Jesus says, “No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”
Love and friendship are much more tightly aligned than we would like to think. After three years of ministry, countless miracles and dusty roads traveled Jesus bases His friendship with the disciples on nothing else, but love, sacrifice, and obedience. If we are followers of Christ, let us love unto death the way He loved–let us die daily to our own desires and will in order to help others do likewise–let us obey the commands of the Father because His commands are not burdensome.
The gift of Jesus’ friendship came at a huge price: His life. In a world where we have social networks, connections, friends, and followers let’s keep in mind that the mark of TRUE friendship lies within the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, we see how deeply God cares about intimacy on a physical and spiritual level.
If you haven’t done so yet, tell your friends about Jesus. It’s the best gift we have, it’s the best gift to give.
#tobepraised