Friends

In the age of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and a host of other social media, everyone wants "friends."  Whether the cyber version or the real life version, most people want to be liked and have friends around them.

It is the rarer person who seeks instead to be a friend.

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18: 24.

So just what does it mean to be a friend?  Let us begin by thinking of the attributes of a friend.

A friend in kind and patient.
A friend is thoughtful.
A friend comforts and encourages.
A friend shares.
A friend celebrates our accomplishments and is genuinely happy for the good things which happen in our lives.
A friend loves us.

And what doesn't a friend do?

A friend isn't boastful or selfish.
A friend doesn't laugh at our mistakes.
A friend doesn't "joke" at our expense.

I wish I could say I was always that kind of friend, but I'm not.  Even my husband Glen, who is the friendliest person on this planet, is not ALWAYS that kind of friend (although he is pretty close!)

But there is One who is.

The Lord Jesus is the perfect friend because everything He ever has done, is doing or will be doing is in perfect accordance with the will of His heavenly Father.  

He has promised He will always be with us.  He has promised He will never leave us.  He has promised He will be all we need Him to be in every circumstance and moment of our lives.  And He never, EVER breaks His promise.

He is the One friend who shares all He has, in fact, if we have trusted in Him we have become "joint-heirs" with Him of all the Father bestows upon Him.  He is with us, He is IN us every moment to lead us, guide us, encourage us and direct us.  He is always pointing us in the right direction and strengthening us to do the Lord's will.

In all our lonely and difficult moments, let us remember that One friend who is always with us and turn to Him with all our cares, for He cares for us.

"Henceforth I call you not servants; 

for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: 

but I have called you friends; 

for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you."  John 15:15