John 15:14-16 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you Friends; for all the things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…
Oh my Friends in Christ, these encouraging, inspiring, heart-warming words of Jesus bring to mind that old hymn; ‘What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer.’ Wow! What else can we ask for? Where can we find a more compassionate, caring, friendly friend eh? Nowhere people, nowhere! Jesus is undoubtedly the best there is. Just look at what He’s saying, what He’s offering. ‘Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.’ The word command is a bit harsh and forceful, that’s not Jesus’ style. It should read instead, if you work with me, do as I ask, cause that’s one of the definitions of friend; someone who works with and truly cares for you. ‘Henceforth I call you not servants.’ Oh people, that calls for another Wow! What a great honour He’s bestowing on us; dropping the yoke, the bondage that the title servant implies, and calling us Friends instead. We’re certainly moving up in the world people, (smile) becoming Friends with the Son of God. That’s the ultimate in Friendship! It just boggles my imagination; God’s Son telling me that I’m no longer His servant but His Friend. Why? ‘For the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you.’ Thank you Jesus! That’s another satisfying definition of a Friend: One who shares their joy, their sorrow, all their ups and downs, their secrets, their hopes and fears; just opens up their lives to another. And people, that’s what Jesus did. He laid bare His heart and soul to us, Told us all that His Father had told Him, He hid nothing from us. As we’re won’t to say, His life was an open book. Then comes the clincher; ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…’ Wow! Wasn’t that our lucky day! Jesus choosing us, unworthy sinners to be His Friends. But that’s what he’s all about; helping the hurting and needy, the lost and lonely, through His overwhelming LOVE and compassion. And Friends, He did not only talk that LOVE, He walked it too, by dying on the cross for our sins. Hear His reasoning. ‘Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ (vs.13) And all God’s people said, Thank you Jesus! Oh Friends, that’s the end all and be all! There’s nothing higher or better. So why is it so hard for us to go to Him with our problems. He’s the best Friend we’ll ever have. He’s proven it. Our earthly friends certainly won’t die for us and will surely forsake us when push comes to shove. But he never will. So if you’re lost or hurting, whatever your problem, wherever you are, turn to Him today, right now. Talk to Him just like you’d do with a human Friend, open your heart to Him. He’ll ease your pain. As that old hymn continues; ‘Oh what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer.’ Please Friends, talk to Him today. He’s waiting to hear from you. If you don’t believe me, just call Him up and see for yourself. Much LOVE!…Jesus’ purpose and great desire…is to lighten our load…
Oh my Friends in Christ, these encouraging, inspiring, heart-warming words of Jesus bring to mind that old hymn; ‘What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer.’ Wow! What else can we ask for? Where can we find a more compassionate, caring, friendly friend eh? Nowhere people, nowhere! Jesus is undoubtedly the best there is. Just look at what He’s saying, what He’s offering. ‘Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.’ The word command is a bit harsh and forceful, that’s not Jesus’ style. It should read instead, if you work with me, do as I ask, cause that’s one of the definitions of friend; someone who works with and truly cares for you. ‘Henceforth I call you not servants.’ Oh people, that calls for another Wow! What a great honour He’s bestowing on us; dropping the yoke, the bondage that the title servant implies, and calling us Friends instead. We’re certainly moving up in the world people, (smile) becoming Friends with the Son of God. That’s the ultimate in Friendship! It just boggles my imagination; God’s Son telling me that I’m no longer His servant but His Friend. Why? ‘For the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you.’ Thank you Jesus! That’s another satisfying definition of a Friend: One who shares their joy, their sorrow, all their ups and downs, their secrets, their hopes and fears; just opens up their lives to another. And people, that’s what Jesus did. He laid bare His heart and soul to us, Told us all that His Father had told Him, He hid nothing from us. As we’re won’t to say, His life was an open book. Then comes the clincher; ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…’ Wow! Wasn’t that our lucky day! Jesus choosing us, unworthy sinners to be His Friends. But that’s what he’s all about; helping the hurting and needy, the lost and lonely, through His overwhelming LOVE and compassion. And Friends, He did not only talk that LOVE, He walked it too, by dying on the cross for our sins. Hear His reasoning. ‘Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ (vs.13) And all God’s people said, Thank you Jesus! Oh Friends, that’s the end all and be all! There’s nothing higher or better. So why is it so hard for us to go to Him with our problems. He’s the best Friend we’ll ever have. He’s proven it. Our earthly friends certainly won’t die for us and will surely forsake us when push comes to shove. But he never will. So if you’re lost or hurting, whatever your problem, wherever you are, turn to Him today, right now. Talk to Him just like you’d do with a human Friend, open your heart to Him. He’ll ease your pain. As that old hymn continues; ‘Oh what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer.’ Please Friends, talk to Him today. He’s waiting to hear from you. If you don’t believe me, just call Him up and see for yourself. Much LOVE!…Jesus’ purpose and great desire…is to lighten our load…
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