For some, the topic of friendship brings up warm and grateful feelings. For others, it’s a touchy subject that stirs up deep emotions of hurt or loneliness. I know for a fact that some of you cried hot tears on Monday when you read about David and Jonathan’s incredible bond, because you’ve longed for it – you’ve even prayed for it – but you’ve never known that kind of authentic friendship.
For those of you who wanted to put down your Bibles and quit earlier this week (it’s ok, God can take it), can I just speak to you all for a minute? Instead of pulling away, I’m asking you to lean in and let God’s Word comfort you in this hard place today…
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” – John 15:12-17
Because earthly relationships are always comprised of two sinners, all of us have experienced times when our friendships (or lack of) have stretched us in uncomfortable ways. But this is it: the longer I walk with Jesus, the more I can embrace these uncomfortable seasons because they remind me that I was never made to find lasting comfort and fulfillment from this world – not from my possessions, not from my location, not from my social status, and not from the people God has placed in my life.
Instead, our loving Father longs for us to look to Him.
To seek Him above all others.
To find comfort, peace, rest, and strength in Him.
David may have been a loyal friend, but Jesus is the better friend. Breathe in deep, and let the truth from today’s Scripture wash over your friendship-weary soul:
Jesus, the Sacrificial Friend
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” The setting was the Last Supper; the audience was His disciples. The evening had revolved around Jesus’s great love for those who knew Him most intimately. He had already washed their feet, spoken of intimate details of His last moments on earth, comforted them with the promise of the Holy Spirit, and challenged them to abide in Him. The next day, Jesus would willingly lay down His life for His friends. Can I challenge you to never get over that? He would defeat sin and death and make a way for you and for me to find mercy, grace, forgiveness, and all that we need in Him. You can stop looking. Greater love has no one than this.
Jesus, the Accessible Friend
“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” In our filthy, sinful, yet redeemed states, we are blessed beyond comprehension to be called servants (or slaves) of Christ. As followers of Jesus, we are chosen, bought with His precious blood, owned, protected, provided for, and given life-long status in the family of God. But if that weren’t enough? He calls us friends. This is no limited, closed-off relationship. Slaves are called to obey without understanding, but because of Jesus, those of us in Christ have access to ALL the knowledge and understanding we need to obey God’s commandments and be comforted by His love. Try to wrap your head around that kind of friendship for a moment. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Matt. 11:30), and He is never far from any of us (Acts 17:27).
Jesus, the Perfect Friend
Because sin entered the world, we will always lack in our human relationships. But there is One who is the Perfect Friend. Even when the world rejected Him, Jesus gave His life to save us, making a way for us to know Him intimately. And about that tall order He gave us to love others? He loved us first, showing us the way.
In the comments, would you thank Him for His friendship today?
At His feet,
.
He truly is the friend that I need, he understands me better than I know myself,and the only one I trust….
Oh Lord my Savior and friend, it is so sweet to know that inspite of all possible enemies that I may have for I will always have a friend in you. Thank you for laying down you life to make me your friend. Hallalueh Jesus!
Every day that I wake up I am so thankful for it. God is so good, and he is there for me always, even when I stray. I am not worthy, but he never lets go of us.
Dear Jesus, Thank you for allowing me to be Your friend! What an honor and privilege it is to know You, and to love You. Thank You for always being with me, guiding me, loving me, and carrying me when I can’t walk on my own. Thank You for giving Your own life, so that we may live. Thank You doesn’t seem like enough, but for now it’s all we have. I love You Jesus, and it’s in Your precious name I pray. Amen!
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for being my friend. You are the only one who can fill me up. Thank you for earthly friends to cheer me on as I walk through this crazy world toward you.
I thank you Yeshua Jesus!! You truly are my very best friend and the lover of my Soul!! For some people that is just words but through my brokenness, loss of friends or ones I thought were friends, YOU alone have been my confidante, my supporter, my Father and my very best friend. I can’t thank YOU enough for choosing me and YOUR incredible sacrifice..I love starting and ending my day with YOU by my side.
Thank you Lord Jesus for this incredible friendship that Yiu offer me. Thank you for being there for me through hard times and happy times. Thank you for the daily blessings of friends and family. Thank yoy Jesus. I love you Lord.
Can we as people really say we are laying down our lives for one another? The way I look at it “No we do not” with all the killing going on every day I know people who call themselves Christian’s are afraid to even feed the hungry on the streets afraid that that person will take their lives. So, tell me how to we correct this message that we are receiving from the world as Christians? Monday scriptures 1 Samuel 18: 1-5 20:42, 23: 16-18 talk about friendship. I could not even call out a true friend to me in my life. Ok, yes I know great people, but when it all points to the word “would they or I lay down our lives for one another.” I for one find it hard to trust people of the human race, because of greed, lies, and fake apostles. I rely on God and pray for Guidance, even in situations where I do not even trust my own family. I love each and every person that I come in contact with every day, but I can truly say I have never had the love and friendship of any person other than God and Jesus who die for me. Now I am living for the return of Jesus and I want to go to heaven and be with my savior when my time arrives, but I have to be ready. I am friends with the word for now, and who is the word, “MY FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN”. I want my Father words to fill my heart with his understanding so I may walk and talk the words of a Christian spreading the gospel and truth to all who wants to hear.
Prayer:
Lord, let your words be my friend to my ears. Lord, give me complete understand of your gospel. I am asking you Lord to teach me to spread your word like you want me too, and when you want me to. Lord, give me complete guidance and directions into your KINGDOM.
Amen
Jesus, thank You for being my friend! I will NEVER get over this fact. Thank You for Your love and mercy that’s splashed all over my life. I love You Lord!
Amen.
Jesus, thank You for Your everlasting, faithful, and strong friendship. You truly always have my side and I am so grateful for Your love. Amen.
I thank you Jesus for calling me your friend.
Thank you Jesus for being my friend. A friend that will never leave me nor forsake me.
Jesus, I am so very grateful that you consider me your friend! As you know, I don’t have a lot of friends…it brings me great comfort knowing that I can call you my friend, and that I can lean on you for love and support. Please be with each person that comments today, helping us all value and remember the truth that you have called us your friends, and there’s nothing greater! In your name, Amen.
Thank you Lord for being the friend that is always there!! I can count on you always. Forgive me when I’m not totally committed to the friendship.
Jesus, thank you for making me your friend! I am unworthy and do not deserve your love, but you have loved us with an everlasting love. Help us to show your love to the world!
Thank you my Father. I am so grateful to be considered your friend. You showed me mercy and love. You have shown me mercy and giving me a new heart at a time I thought I was not worthy of your love or your friendship. Thank you Jesus for knowing that all you would endure was for me and you still chose to pick me as your friend. Guide us all as we go into the world today. Your love will endure all that is wrong in this world. Let us all go out today and be a friend.
In Jesus name Amen!
As a woman that lost her BFF tragically and suddenly 3 years ago, it still hurts. I know one day I will see her in glory, but here on this earth, the void is real?
She was the closest friend I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Holly and I were Soul Sisters. I miss her so…
Jesus, come into my empty place in my heart and fill it with your love and peace.
I am yours,
Kristin
Wow! “I have called you friend!” Amazing statement…to me it says “out of all the people who have ever lived or ever will live, Jesus has chosen me (& you, too) to be His friend! Not that it releases me from obeying Him as a slave/bond servant obeys his master/Lord (for we are that because we were bought with a price-the torture and death of Christ), but as friend the motivation is not just grateful indebtedness, but now love, joyful love! I’m rejoicing that He calls me friend!
Lord, I am in a new season of life…in a new place…with new people…a new church…Lord, thank you for being constant and for being by my side through the midst of it all. I thank you for being a friend to me..I thank you for providing new ladies in my life and I just pray that you would grow and cultivate those relationships to be meaningful. Would all of my relationships be centered on you and for your glory. Amen
I did cry, but more on Tuesday. I was so impressed with the integrity of Jonathan and David.
Jonathan was in a very hard place, between 2 people he loved. He chose the Lord over the whole situation, he died by his Father Saul side and yet David knew without a doubt that Jonathan loved him also. David had the integrity to not touch God’s annointed, even though he had the opportunity and then in integrity had the man killed that dared to kill God’s annointed King Saul. I am so thankful to our Heavenly Father for His word, where we can read and learn. Our integrity in this world speaks volumes and shows Christ in a way that people want to know Him! I want to be that kind of Christian!
Wow. I love coming to this page and seeing all the love and friendship displayed for our Lord and Savior. He is constant. He is faithful. He is loving. Some of you are struggling, and I hope that your friendship with Jesus brings you peace and hope. When we are scared or troubled or confused by the world around us, He is there with us as a companion. He will never let us down. Thank you all for your encouragement and beautiful words today. I pray your friendship with Jesus will continue to grow and be enriched daily. Thank you, Whitney for your words today.
Lindsay, LGG Encourager
A friend who loves me enough to never walk away. He’s dependable and follows thru with His promises, always present, always caring, always keeping me on track or guiding me back-The Good Shepard:)
Jesus, you are the one who showed me who a true friend is and continue to show me every day, I love you lord.
Thank you most merciful Father God for saving my babies life and mine in the horrific car accident on
6-6-16…their is no doubt You placed all your sheep where they could aid in our rescue. ..I can only honor you with my Testimony of your great love. .honor and glory
Thank you Jesus .
I was so relieved to read Whitney’s blog today because after reading her Monday blog and then reading everyone’s comments I was feeling very alone. I have never had one person that I have felt truly connected to like Jonathon and David were. It has been something that I struggled with for years growing up. I longed and yearned for someone who wanted to spend as much time with me as I did with her but I still have yet to find someone like that. But somewhere around 15 years ago when I was at a low point in my life, I turned to God and as my heart was crying out to Him He reminded that Jesus is my only true friend and that Jesus would always be there for me to listen and love me without judgement. Boy, that was a turning point for me. Do I still wish God would send me a “bosom buddy” here on Earth, yes. But does it bother me like it did growing up, no, because Jesus is always there when I need Him. And He wants to be with me. Thank you Jesus my precious friend for loving me for all my faults and yearning my friendship as much as I yearn for you.
Reading this tonight gave me a thought that even in those times, people still dealt with issues we still struggle with today. Jesus has the same teaching as he did back then is to love one another. Why is this so hard for so many? Bypassing the filters we put up can only then we can love from the heart.
Lord Jesus, thank you for your unconditional love you give everyday and your merciful blessing and grace. Thank you Father for giving me the opportunity to say yes to my calling you have again brought in my life your patience, love for others. Forgive me of my sins as you have done with my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ shedding his blood for the love he has for me. I know that it is never late to love you God I been stubborn all my life and now I know the awesome love you have for me. The opportunity you brought back into my life help me to achieve with all my heart. And minister to others as you did and love others with patience and love.