John 15:15 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.
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Yesterday, I enjoyed a much needed girls day with my lifelong friend, Lisa. Lisa has quite a few special events upcoming in the next few weeks as she anticipates the arrival of her grandbaby, and she needed some new clothes so she called me up. The two of us have been best friends since second grade, but we are total opposites in so many ways. I kind of like to trade the barn clothes or scrubs in and dress up and wear pretty clothes and shiny jewelry every now and then. Lisa never really liked the dressing up part so she called in reinforcements for a shopping mission. That is part of what’s made our friendship strong over the years. We are different, but our differences compliment each other.
Lisa and I know pretty much everything about each other. We’ve been by each other’s side for births and adoptions, divorces and marriages, and deaths of loved ones. We’ve shared good times and bad, and we may not hear from each other for weeks at a time, but when we talk, we pick right back up where we left off.
Friendship is a treasured gift, and I’m thankful for all of the wonderful, remarkable friends that God has placed in my life. But there is one friend that stands out above all others. His name is Jesus. I pray that you Peeps know Him, but if you don’t, what are you waiting for? Jesus is the truest friend there is. He loves us no matter what. It doesn’t matter how bad you think the sin in your life is or how horrible of a person you think you may be. He loves you. It sounds crazy, huh? When a friend does something that hurts us, we get angry. We fight and fuss, and sometimes friendships are destroyed. We separate ourselves from that person because we don’t like them anymore. It’s not like that with Jesus. Amazingly, He loves you right where you are right this very minute. It doesn’t matter how far you’ve run from Him. He is waiting with open arms to welcome you home.
In John 15:15, Jesus tells His most beloved disciples that He no longer calls them servants, but He now calls them friends. To be a servant of Christ is a very high honor. It is a great honor to be the servant of the one true King. But a king or master doesn’t tell his servants His plans. He doesn’t share His secrets with His servants. The servants aren’t privy to the business of the master. But Jesus shared His plans and all that God had shown Him with the disciples. He elevated them from the honorable position of servant to the most honorable position of friend. And John 15:13, Jesus reminded us that there’s no greater love than a friend who lays down his life for his friends. Jesus is that loving friend! He laid down His life for us on the cross. He took on the sins of all man. He died for you and me and even that grouchy old neighbor you don’t like. He died for us so that we may have everlasting life with Him. There is no truer friend than that. There is no greater friend than Jesus! If you don’t know Him, you are missing out on the greatest gift ever given. Take time to get to know Him today!
Inspirations from the Funny Farm 