Friends

Jesus said, "I do not call you servants ... I have called you friends."
-John 15:15 (NRSV)


DURING my lifetime I've had very few best friends. There have been some sad times when a friend moved far away and slack times when I had no best friend at all. Life can be lonely and boring without friends. However, friendship is not something that can be forced; friendship just seems to happen. On a given day I may meet someone; we will find that we have common interests, and over time we will interact and become friends.

Consider the paralytic in Luke 5 whose friends lowered him down through a roof. I picture that day starting out with jokes and laughter and everyone full of hope as they carried their friend to see a man they thought could heal him. When Jesus finally saw the man, he called him "friend." The man who was formerly paralyzed now was surrounded by his old friends and his new friend, Jesus. He walked home that day. He had a new friend, and he had God's forgiveness. That is what I call a great day!

I need to remember that I am Jesus' friend and he is mine. Even if I'm going through a season when I don't have an earthly friend in my life, I have a heavenly friend who can comfort me, encourage me, and forgive me when I fail.


Prayer
O God, thank you for the friends we meet along life's journey. Remind us that you are always our companion. Amen.



From: UpperRoom Devotionals - Richard Lewis