GOOD FRIENDS

Experts chose “unfriend” as the New Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year for 2009. They defined it as a verb, “to remove someone as a ‘friend’ on social networking sites such as Facebook”. Many of us will have friends on our social media pages that we have never actually met face-to-face. Yet we will allow them to see our posts and photos. In our world of surface-level cyber-friends, maybe having true friends means more now than ever before.

When Jesus called His followers “friends” (JOHN 15:15), He spoke of an amazing relationship involving His commitment to them, as well as their commitment to Him. He was only hours from laying down His life (V.13), and He asked them to show their friendship by keeping His commands (V.14).

Most surprising, perhaps, is Jesus’ statement: “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” (V.15).

Genuine friends look out for one another in times of discouragement or stress. That is what Jesus is to us—our faithful Friend.

Thinking it over . . .

How do you think of Jesus? Would you call Him your friend?
How does His friendship inspire how you treat your friends?

THE BEST FRIEND WE HAVE IS JUST A SHADOW
COMPARED TO JESUS.

YouTh Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries