LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO MY FRIEND

Jesus said, "I no longer call you servants, for 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."  (John 15:15 NIV)

“Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”  (John 17:3 NIV)

We talk about God in the third person. We teach about God. However, we don't teach about our spouses or about our good friends. We introduce them, not teach about them. Too often we relate to God as a myth or a theorem to be talked about and not as a friend to be introduced.

-- Adapted from Norman Shawchuck in “A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God”

#6415

JESUS WEPT

It was customary in ancient Israel to bury someone on the day of death. After death, the Talmud prescribed seven days of deep mourning and thirty days of light mourning. So [after Lazarus died] Jesus shows up right in the middle of their deepest sorrow and grieves with them. John 11:35 simply says, “Jesus wept.”

It’s one of the shortest verses in the Bible, but it speaks volumes. And I’m not sure the English translation does it justice. The force of the Greek verb tense suggests that Jesus bursts into tears. This was not a measured response. Jesus literally lost it. It reveals how much Jesus loved Lazarus. It also reveals a God who sheds tears! And He doesn’t just cry over us, He collects our tears in a bottle (see Psalm 56:8).

Your tears are precious to God. Whether they are tears of joy, tears of sorrow, or tears of pain -- not one teardrop is lost on God.

If you’ve endured the type of loss Mary and Martha experienced [in losing their brother], you know that sometimes you need a shoulder to cry on. I’m grateful for those friends who seem to show up when everybody else disappears. Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (see Proverbs 18:24), and His broad shoulders can bear any burden. 

-- Mark Batterson in “The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible”

#6329

PHILIP HAD TO TELL NATHANAEL

“The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote -- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ ‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?’ Nathanael asked. ‘Come and see,’ said Philip.”  (John 1:43-46 NIV)

Philip not only had a seeking heart, but he also had the heart of a personal evangelist. His first response upon meeting Jesus was to find his friend Nathanael and tell him about the Messiah.

I am convinced… that friendships provide the most fertile soil for evangelism. When the reality of Christ is introduced into a relationship of love and trust that has already been established, the effect is powerful. And it seems that invariably, when someone becomes a true follower of Christ, that person’s first impulse is to want to find a friend and introduce that friend to Christ. That dynamic is seen in Philip’s spontaneous instinct to go find Nathanael and tell him about the Messiah.

The language Philip used betrayed his amazement at discovering who the Messiah was. The One whom Moses wrote, and the One foretold by the prophets, was none other than “Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph,” a lowly carpenter’s son.

Nathanael was at first nonplused. “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”…

But Philip was undaunted: “Come and see.” The ease which Philip believed is remarkable. In human terms, no one had brought Philip to Jesus. He was like Simeon, “waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him” (Luke 2:25). Philip knew the Old Testament promises. He was ready. He was expectant. His heart was prepared. And He received Jesus gladly, unhesitatingly, as Messiah. No reluctance. No disbelief. It mattered not to him what kind of one-horse town the Messiah had grown up in. He knew instantly that he had come to the end of his search. 

-- John MacArthur (1939-2025) in “Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness and What He Wants to Do with You” 

#6234

REBUKE FROM A PROPHET

"A man who says he loves God..."

One time, twenty or so years ago, I was in Japan on a speaking tour with a close personal friend. He was a number of years older than I was. As we walked down the street in Yokohama, Japan, the name of a common friend came up, and I said something unkind about that person. It was sarcastic. It was cynical. It was a put-down. My older friend stopped, turned, and faced me until his face was right in front of mine. With deep, slow words he said, "Gordon, a man who says he loves God would not say a thing like that about a friend."

He could have put a knife into my ribs, and the pain would not have been any less. He did what a prophet does. But you know something? There have been ten thousand times in the last twenty years that I have been saved from making a jerk of myself. When I've been tempted to say something unkind about a brother or sister, I hear my friend's voice say, "Gordon, a man who says he loves God would not speak in such a way about a friend."

Prophets do that. They remind us of the truth and where we are falling short. If you avoid prophets -- and a lot of people do -- you do so at the peril of your spiritual journey. You and I need [friends who are] prophets.

-- Gordon MacDonald in a sermon titled "Feeling As God Feels"

#5656

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”  (John 15:5 NKJV)

When Jesus began His ministry to make the invisible God visible, He wasted no time gathering disciples, whom He called friends (John 15:15). In fact, Jesus was criticized for some of His friendships (Luke 7:34). But He persisted – and still persists – in embracing those who would embrace Him (John 15: 14, 16). What greater honor can there be than publicly to be called God’s friends?

God calls us to be His friends. What does friendship entail? Surely it involves spending time, sharing delights, bearing problems, and divulging intimacies. It requires common interests and shared values, similar objectives and unity of heart. Most of all it involves laying down your life for your friends (John 15:13) – and that is exactly what Jesus did for us. It is true that “there are ‘friends’ that destroy each other” (Proverbs 18:24a). They do it by controlling, demanding, betraying, and abusing. They are friends in name only. But a “real friend sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24b). And that is the kind of friendship God extends to us – incredibly – and expects from us in return. 

– Excerpted from “Daily Study Bible for Men” with daily studies by Stuart Briscoe

#5655

TRUE FRIENDSHIP

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  (John 15:13 NIV)

The [following] incident was told to Col. John W. Mansur during the Vietnam War.

An orphanage in a Vietnamese village had been struck by mortar fire.  Missionaries and two children were killed, and several children were injured.  One was an eight-year old girl.  When medical aid was sought, American military personnel responded.  The navy doctor's examination revealed that some of the uninjured children's blood matched the injured girl's.

Working through broken Vietnamese and sign language, the medical personnel told the frightened children that unless some of the injured girl's blood could be replaced, she would die.  Then they asked, "Would any of you be willing to give her your blood?"

After a period of awkward silence a boy named Heng haltingly raised his hand.  Quickly the young lad was laid on a mat beside the girl and a needle inserted into his vein.  As the transfusion started, he suddenly covered his face and uttered a sob.  The occasional sob turned into steady weeping.  The medical team knew something was wrong but had no way to clearly communicate with the boy until a Vietnamese nurse arrived.

The nurse began a dialogue in her own language with the sobbing boy.  As their conversation continued, his crying gradually ceased, and a sense of peace spread over his face. Then the nurse spoke to the American medical team and unraveled the boy's mysterious behavior.

"He thought he was dying.  He misunderstood you.  He thought you had asked him to give all his blood so the little girl could live."

A dumbfounded American nurse asked, "Why would he be willing to do that?"

When the Vietnamese nurse posed the question to the boy, he responded, "She's my friend." 

-- Dr. Norm Wakefield & Jody Brolsma in “Men Are from Israel, Women Are from Moab”

#5429

GOD’S FAMILY

“But to all who believed [Jesus] and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn -- not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”  (John 1:12-13 NLT) 

God is building a family. A permanent family. Earthly families enjoy short shelf lives. Even those that sidestep divorce are eventually divided by death. God’s family, however, will outlive the universe. “When I think of the wisdom and scope of His plan I fall on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God – some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth.” (Ephesians 3:14-15 TLB)…

Common belief identifies members of God’s family. And common affection unites them. Paul gives this relationship rule for the church: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” (Romans 12:10 NIV)… The church is God’s family.

You didn’t pick me. I didn’t pick you. You may not like me. I may not like you. But since God picked and likes us both, we are family. And we treat each other as friends. 

-- Max Lucado in “Cure for the Common Life”

#5190

PRAYING WHEN IT’S HARD - Part 2

To try to be in control of my prayers and their answers is especially tempting for me when I am praying for a difficult situation, or for persons for whom I may prefer not to pray. The title of an article by Stephen Doughty -- “How Do We Pray When We are Divided?” -- made me pause and think. How do we pray for the church... for our country… for one another... when harmony and unity seem to elude us? Am I willing to hold my desires for “harmony” in the light of God’s will through the Holy Spirit? When prayer is difficult because of my own feelings of distrust or fear or anger or bitterness toward others, I especially need to be reminded of the words of a Benedictine monk who said, “Pray as you can, not as you can’t.” It is when I cannot pray because I do not have the words, or because there is less than perfect harmony in my own heart, or between myself and my brother and sister, that I need to be reminded of the promise in Romans 8:26. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Do we trust God enough to allow the Spirit to help us pray for the church, for the country, and for one another not knowing what the answers will be, yet willing to receive the gift of God’s will through the Holy Spirit? 

-- Adapted from a message by Harriet Finney entitled "Perfect Harmony"

#5022

A FRIEND OF THE POOR

A friend of the poor is a friend of God. When we choose to follow the way of God’s heart for the poor, we become friends with God. The Bible speaks very highly of those who serve on behalf of the poor and promises them good outcomes.

Proverbs 19:17 tells us that those “who [are] kind to the poor lend to the Lord.” And in Proverbs 14:31: “He who opposes the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” The Prophet Jeremiah wrote of good King Josiah, “’He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know Me?’ declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 22:16)

In the New Testament Church we are given a picture of believers who shared so completely among themselves that there were no poor among them (Acts 4:34). And in the same book we learn that Cornelius, searching for God, is found precisely because of his sensitivity to the poor: “Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.” (Acts 10:31) 

--  Gordon Aeschilman in an article entitled “God’s Heart for the Poor” in “Discipleship Journal”

#4870

HOW IS IT WITH YOUR SOUL? - Part 2

“Christ encourages you, and His love comforts you. God’s Spirit unites you, and you are concerned for others. Now make me completely happy! Live in harmony by showing love for each other. Be united in what you think, as if you were only one person. Don’t be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. Care about them as much as you care about yourselves.”  (Philippians 2:1-4 CEV)

John Wesley’s question, “How is it with your soul?” can help make sure that we still find life in things that we may have taken for granted because of their routine-ness.

Someone once told me that prayer is to our souls as breathing is to our bodies. Wesley’s question helps me to make sure my soul is breathing. Reminding me… to pause… to pray… to wonder… to be in awe… to laugh… to cry… to sing. It reminds me that it’s OK to be human. And that it’s more than OK to admit that I’m not doing well and need a little help from my friends.

Maybe you could benefit from asking yourself, “How is it with my soul?” Or maybe you could help someone by asking how their soul is and then genuinely listen to their response. It’s an important question that we should ask and answer frequently.

-- Adapted from Joseph Yoo in “Ministry Matters” Blog


#4811

THE FRIEND WHO CARES

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”  (Ephesians 2:3-4 NIV)

What does it mean to care?… The word care finds its roots in the Gothic "Kara," which means "lament."  The basic meaning of care is to grieve, to experience sorrow, to cry out with.  I am very much struck by this background of the word care because we tend to look at caring as an attitude of the strong toward the weak, of the powerful toward the powerless, of the haves toward the have-nots.  And, in fact, we feel quite uncomfortable with an invitation to enter into someone's pain before doing something about it.

Still, when we honestly ask ourselves which persons in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not-knowing, not-curing, not-healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is the friend who cares.

-- Henri Nouwen in “Out of Solitude”


#4805

IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS

In looking for ideas for Christmas gifts I found these suggestions from Oren Arnold: For your enemy, forgiveness. For an opponent, tolerance. For a friend, your heart. For a customer, service. For every child, a good example. For yourself, respect.

That got me thinking about some other gift suggestions as well: For your neighbor, charity. For a coworker or classmate, encouragement. For your pastor, support. For the lonely, companionship. For the grieving, a remembrance. For all everywhere, the love of God in Christ Jesus. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” (John 3:16a)

Maybe this prompts you to think about Christmas gifts in a different way. We’d love to hear from you about your ideas for Christmas giving this year.

-- David T. Wilkinson, SOUND BITES Ministry


#4739

GRACE IN ACTION

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:43-45a NIV)

In “The Grace of Giving,” Stephen Olford tells of a Baptist pastor during the American Revolution, Peter Miller, who lived in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, and enjoyed the friendship of George Washington.

In Ephrata also lived Michael Wittman, and evil-minded sort who did all he could to oppose and humiliate the pastor.

One day Michael Wittman was arrested for treason and sentenced to die. Peter Miller traveled 70 miles on foot to Philadelphia to plead for the life of the traitor.

"No, Peter," General Washington said, "I cannot grant you the life of your friend."

"My friend," exclaimed the old preacher, "he's the bitterest enemy I have."

"What?" exclaimed Washington. "You've walked seventy miles to save the life of an enemy? That puts the matter in a completely different light. I'll grant your pardon."

And that's exactly what Washington did. Peter Miller took Michael Wittman back home to Ephrata -- no longer an enemy, but a friend.

-- Craig Brian Larson, “Leadership Journal”


#4717

YOU HAVE A WITNESS TO MAKE

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  (Acts 1:8 NIV)

When the word missionary is mentioned, most American Christians think of persons who serve in foreign lands.  Images come to mind of faithful servants of God who go to faraway places with the prayer and with the financial support of Christians back home.  Missionaries go to faraway places to witness for Christ to persons who have not yet embraced Jesus as Savior and Lord.  However we must expand our images of missionaries… What is a missionary?  She or he is a person who has entered into a relationship of love and commitment with Christ.  That relationship compels devoted service and witness to [unchurched] persons wherever they are.  For most American Christians, that mission field is right in their own communities.

If you are a Christian, you are a missionary.  You have a witness to make to the many persons in your realm of influence who have not yet said "yes" to Christ.

-- Harold K. Bates in “Witness for Christ”

#4694

FRIENDS WHO INVITE FRIENDS

“But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor Him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15-16a GNT)

"Do you, as the way opens, share Christ with people who do not know Christ?  Do you witness to your faith by letting your life speak?"  These questions, adapted from a Quaker covenant, remind us of the gentleness, simplicity, and persistence that underlies effective invitation.  Many people with no church home are respectful, curious, and open to spirituality in general.  Others are hostile, resentful, or suspicious of religion, perceiving church people to be offensive and hurtful.

Even people who are not particularly open to church are nevertheless open to their friends, and to the experiences that their friends value.  The most concrete and personal way God reaches out to invite people into faith is through friends who invite friends.

Most people who have no church have at least one friend who practices the faith, and that person provides the most likely pathway to the spiritual journey.  Are you that person?

-- Robert Schnase in “Five Practices of Fruitful Living”

#4641

JESUS CALLS US FRIENDS

“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.”  (John 15:15 NIV)

Jesus calls us to be His friend, and the friend of God. That is a tremendous offer. It means that no longer do we need to gaze longingly at God from afar off; we are not like slaves who have no right whatever to enter into the presence of the master; passing on some state occasion. Jesus gave us this intimacy with God, so that He is no longer a distant stranger, but our close friend.

-- William Barclay in his commentary on “The Gospel of John”

#4320

YOUR EXPECTATIONS

[My husband] said something… that's really stuck with me, "Joni, if I met all of your expectations, you wouldn't need God."


There's a lot of truth in that, isn't there?  If our spouses were all we expected them to be, we wouldn't feel much inclination to depend on the Lord.


The Bible talks about expectations in Micah 7: "Put no confidence in a friend.  Even with her who lies in your embrace… But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord." (vv.5, 7)


Elsewhere God's Word talks about not putting our trust in horses or chariots or princes. It's so easy to do that, to let expectations build.


But God doesn't want us to substitute anything or anybody for Him.  Not pastors or teachers, boyfriends or girlfriends, or even husbands or wives.


So if your expectations have been crushed recently, and you're disappointed, fearful that this person just isn't all you had hoped he or she would be, maybe it's just God's way of reminding you to put your confidence in the Holy One.


He is able to meet your expectations.  And unlike your husband, wife, or close friend… [God is] perfect.


-- Joni Earkeckson Tada in Glorious Intruder




#3769

GOD'S SPIRIT WITH US

You are, I'm sure, familiar with the myth of the "self-made man." But, the truth is that there is no such thing. If you really break apart any life, and examine it closely, you will discover the kernel of truth that everyone stands on the shoulders of someone else. In every life, there are teachers, parents, friends, co-workers, mentors, who have helped a so-called "self-made" person get to where they are today. No one really does it alone. But as Christians, we not only believe this, we believe in the one step more. We believe that not only do others help us along the way, but also that we truly do nothing without the aid and presence of God's Spirit with us.

-- Copyright Eric Folkerth 2000. All Rights Reserved. (Used with Permission)


#3552

A FRIEND WHO CARES

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.

-- Henri Nouwen


#3297

HEART AND HEAD

Many people will walk in and out of your life,
But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

To handle yourself, use your head;

To handle others, use your heart.

 

-- Eleanor Roosevelt

 

 

#3244