"You are My friends if you do what I command." John 15:14
Which is more amazing -- that Jesus desires to be our friend or that He wants us to be His? Jesus makes the best friend we could ever have.
What makes a best friend? Consider Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 18-23). The world celebrates theirs as the ultimate true friendship. They show that a friend is committed in words and actions (1 Samuel 18:4). A best friend is loyal, putting everything on the line to speak on the friend's behalf (1 Samuel 19:1-5). Jonathan was a faithful friend (1 Samuel 23:17), and he loved David as himself (1 Samuel 18:3).
Committed, loyal, faithful, loving -- the marks of a best friend. This is the kind of friend Jesus desires and deserves. He wants friends who are committed in more than words. He delights in friends who are loyal to Him and speak up for Him. He wants friends who are faithful and true. He wants friends who love Him even as they love themselves.
What kind of friend are you to Jesus? Not nearly the best friend He is to you. Even when we fail as His friends, He forgives us and remains committed and loyal to us. He is faithful, loving us even to the point of dying for us so we may live forever. "What a friend we have in Jesus."
PRAYER: Jesus, You are my best friend. Help me live as Yours. Amen.
(Devotions from "The Abundant Life" copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Ruth 1-4 Luke 17:1-19
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