Dear brothers and sisters,
Loving greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Today let us see about the importance of having a good
spiritual and close friend in our lives. The bible clearly says
God can be our best friend if we follow Him faithfully. Jesus
loved His disciples very much as a friend loves as in John 17:23
& 24, I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete
unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them
even as you have loved me. Vs.24, "Father, I want those you
have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the
glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation
of the world.” He also told them they are His friends as
in John 15:14 & 15; “You are my friends if you do what
I command. Vs.15, 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.” He loved them until the end.
1. In the Old Testament we see Abraham the father of believers
also maintained a close friendly relationship with God as in 2
Chr 20:7, “O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants
of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to
the descendants of Abraham your friend? In Isa 41:8 "But
you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants
of Abraham my friend, Also in James 2:23, “And the scripture
was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was
credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's
friend.
2. Moses developed similar type of friendly relationship with
God as in Exo.33:11, “The LORD would speak to Moses face
to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return
to the camp,”
Who can be a friend of God?
1. The one who can obey the commandments of God as in John 14:21,
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who
loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too
will love him and show myself to him."
2. If any one loves God then he will obey the commandments of
God as in John 14:23, “Jesus replied, "If anyone loves
me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we
will come to him and make our home with him.”
3. If we believe Jesus is the son of God we will certainly love
him as in John 16:27, “No, the Father himself loves you
because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.”
What are the benefits we get through a true friend?
1. We can trust them as in Prov 27:6 Wounds from a friend can
be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
2. They will bring joy and comfort to our hearts as in Prov 27:9;
“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness
of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.’
3. They are better than the brothers as in Pro.27:10, “Do
not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do
not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you-- better
a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.”
3. If we fall, they will help us to rise up again as in Eccl 4:10,
“If one falls down, his friend can help him up.”
4. They will not be feel ashamed to be called themselves as friend
like Jesus as in Mat 11:19, “The Son of Man came eating
and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." But wisdom
is proved right by her actions." Luke 7:34 The Son of Man
came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and
a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."'
5. They will supply us in the time of need as in Luke 11:8 I tell
you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because
he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get
up and give him as much as he needs.
6. They will do what they can do to us in the right time as in
John 11:11, “After he had said this, he went on to tell
them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going
there to wake him up."
7. They will pray for his friend as Jesus also did for his disciples
as in Job 16:20 My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out
tears to God; Job 16:21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God
as a man pleads for his friend.
May the Lord help each one of us to follow him and obey his commandments
to become his true friend in this month. Amen.
Your Web-Site Pastor,
Rev.
Dr. T. Marcus Devasahayam
Web-site: www.barodabibleclub.org
e-mail: marcusbbc@yahoo.com
Mobile: 91-9327243600 ,Church 3096882 / 5540651.
Res : 3, 2nd floor, Arpita Complex, Priyalaxmi Mills Road, Vadodara
– 390003, Gujarat, India, Phone:91-265-2335651.
