He Calls Me Friend
By Kendra Osborn
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. 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. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last."
John 15:12-16
I love my friends. God has blessed me beyond measure with such amazing friends. I had lunch with some of them the other day. We had a laughter episode during our lunch. I found myself laughing so hard I was crying, and the muscles in my stomach were hurting. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard! It felt so good to be with my Sisters and be filled with the joy of the Lord. When I left, I was full of gratitude and thankfulness for the blessing they are to me.
God created us to be relational, and we need people in our lives. We are not to live this life alone and isolate ourselves from others. Life is too hard. I thank God for every one of my friends. I realize how much God loves me because He has blessed me with great friends.
Sisters, we are doing life together, and we need each other. I have learned what the gift of friendship is. I am so thankful when I remember what God has given me through each of them. Philippians 1:3 says, "I thank my God every time I remember you." Be thankful for your friends!
One of my friends has a plaque that says, "You can't pick your family, but you can pick your friends." That is so true, but I believe we need to let God pick our friends! We trust Him to choose our spouse so we should also trust Him with choosing our friends.
Jesus said He chose His friends. They did not choose Him. He had multitudes of people around Him. They all wanted something from Him, but He chose those who He could trust to do life with. He equipped them to go and to bear much fruit. That is what He desire for us in our friendships. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Together we can walk this journey together, equipping each other, and bearing fruit for the Kingdom.
We need each other, and we need Jesus! Not only does He bless us with friends, He calls us His friend! In today's Scripture, Jesus said that we are His friends, not servants, because He has made known to us what He learned from the Heavenly Father. Shout for joy, Sisters! We are friends with Jesus Christ, and He adores our friendship. He longs to be intimate with us. Just like the friends we have here on earth, we need Him. We need to spend time with Him as our Friend.
Pray with me: Abba Father, how we praise You! Lord God, thank You for calling us friend and bestowing upon us a friendship through Your Son, Jesus Christ. You, Lord, are so worthy to be praised! How is it that we are worthy to be Your friend and to know the things of You, Lord? I am so grateful for You, Lord, and thankful You chose us!
Father, I pray for each of us and the friends You have placed in our lives that we would sharpen each other for Your glory and for Your kingdom.
I pray for those who are in friendships that are unhealthy or are not of You. Lord, intervene in those relationships and prune what is unhealthy so that an abundance of fruit could come forth.
God, I pray for those who are alone and do not know the joy of deep friendships. I pray God, You, would open a door for those who are isolated or are living life without others. If past hurts are preventing letting anyone in God break through and bless them with a double portion of friends.
Lord God, I pray for those friendships that once were and are now no longer. God, if it is Your will that we experience a seasonal friendship give us discernment to realize Your plan and help us to know when to let go. Guard our hearts and help us walk through the process that can be so painful of letting go whatever the reason may be. Teach us how to be unified by the Spirit with our friends even if we are not unified physically.
In You Lord, we have the perfect Friend. We know You will never hurt us, leave us, or forsake us. Thank You, God, for Your love and friendship. I pray in the name above all names, in the name of Jesus Christ, our faithful Friend. Amen!