Jesus Is Our Friend part 1, A Relationship with God

  Last week, the Spirit led me to change directions after I began. I shared the relationship God promises and started on friendship. Then, I focused on differences between it and what the world promises. God knew someone needed that. Now, let’s look more at that relationship with God – how He helps us and you can help others by sharing about it.

My best friend from college, Sander, trusted Jesus as his Saviour last year. One key was the peace I had, whatever my future, when I broke my leg in 2011. People find false peace in things that don’t last. Like Peter taking his eyes off Jesus walking on water, we can lose sight of what God gives us if we worry too much. Some sink into depression if not careful. But, God’s peace is real and always there for us. This is one of the keys. The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter, in fact. In my online missionary testimony I say Jesus is a constant guide, comforter, helper, friend, and so much more.

Jesus fills many roles for believers. Comfort and help with all our needs – Psalm 46 is great to memorize for that – are just part. Jesus guides with His Word - we need direction, with all that goes on now. But, think about what He means calling His disciples – thus, any believer - friends. God also said He should tell His friend Abraham what would happen to Sodom. So, in the Old and New Testament, those close to Jesus are called friends. And, Jesus always puts others first the way true friends do; it’s why I push prayer so much, it’s something we can do even when away from others.

Jesus as our friend covers all the other attributes. Our best friends guide us, so we should seek Godly friends: Any who don’t follow the Lord should be surrounded by Godly ones so those who follow Jesus are the positive influence they need. Best friends help solve problems and should be great listeners, or give good advice. Some are better at certain things, but all true friends build others up. They edify each other like that because they realize we are all human and need that help.

Of course, Jesus is also 100% God and man. He became flesh.(John 1:14) John notes in Scripture they touched Him and ate with Him and had things in common. So, He is able to be a close friend because He understands what we go through. A number of great hymns: “I must tell Jesus,” “In the garden,” “What a friend we have in Jesus,” etc. – tell of this. The words to old hymns are great to look at and think on; they are poetry. Even if they seem slow to be sung slow, by searching for the lyrics you can get great encouragement. Maybe you can write a faster arrangement.

Good friends say if we’re messing up, though it may not always be appreciated, at least at first, even if done kindly. Since Jesus is God, He knows what’s right. The key is the friend is always there. For instance, I know a teen, Courtney, who got pregnant. I don’t know if/when her best friend said anything else, but she promised to help Courtney raise the child. She even partly blocked a car slowly backing up, protecting Courtney and her baby last year when she was pregnant. Mom – just grazed - and baby were ok but the friend was in the hospital a few days. Please pray for Courtney, her baby, and all they go through, for her to always follow & trust Jesus, the baby to do well, Jesus to be glorified, etc.

Of course, Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13):  He knew our greatest need was salvation, so He made a way for us to get to Heaven. And, since He filled our greatest need, that means He knows how to fill all our other needs, too. He knows what we need even better than we do. He (through the Holy Spirit, which is how He lives in each believer) shows us how to pray when we ask Him about cases like the above, for instance. Or, anytime as we talk with Him about things.

Worldly friends can let us down and lead us astray. Jesus will never do that. That’s a huge thing to tell others. That’s why we always say it’s not a religion; it’s a relationship. What are some things you need His help with? Ask Him. He is always there for you.