Never Alone

News so Good it’s Just Gotta’ be told
Part 3

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

I have a good friend. We’ve met weekly over the last 10 years for lunch, fellowship, counsel, and support. He is the pastor of a wonderful church down the street from our church campus. Risking life and limb, he likes to ride his bike fast and far (see picture). Still, he puts even more energy into knowing Christ and making Him known.

My friend takes time to tell me the truth even when it hurts and stands by me when I begin to falter (Prov. 27:6). I respect his faith and integrity and am unspeakably grateful to God for providing all these years of friendship. Dr. Weir, thanks for your investment in my life.

Our closest friends influence our behavior and decisions. We find ourselves seeking their counsel (what do you think?), approval (does this seem wise to you?), and blessing. Just as “bad company corrupts good morals,” good friendships with wise friends can make us better than we would have been on our own (I Cor. 15:33).

To fully comprehend the gospel, we have to understand what Jesus has done for us. The miracle began before the foundation of the world in the heart of the Father. Jesus was in heaven with the Father and came down to earth, born of a virgin, to re-establish that which had been broken – relationship with fallen mankind. Jesus sacrificed the pure, uninterrupted joy of heaven, laying aside its resplendent glory, and humbled Himself to take on the flesh of a man (Phil. 2:5-8).

Jesus then lived on earth with a “dual nature” as fully God, fully man. He humbled Himself in the form of a servant that He might redeem us. No wonder He didn’t stay dead but rose from the grave! And on the night He was betrayed he shared some bread with His friends and said “this is my body, broken for you” (I Cor. 11:24). Don’t miss the impact; He allowed Himself to be broken for you. For you.

Only God is capable of such perfect love and sacrifice. God lavished His love upon us in the person of Jesus Christ. When the Father sacrificed His only Son for us, the way was made open to knowing Jesus in an intimate and close personal relationship (John 3:16).

What is Christianity about then? Simply . . . knowing Jesus and striving to know Him more and more. In seeking to know Him more deeply every day we are transformed. We can’t help but share the good news and serve the brokenhearted because of the transformational love produced by simply being with Him (Mark 10:45).

The rulers of this world want to “lord it over us,” but Jesus, the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords, has called us His friends (John 15:14, 15). Those of us who truly know Him are being transformed daily into His likeness. We are becoming more like Him in character and love. That’s why we can’t help but love people like He loves them, serve people like He serves them, and tell people how they can come to know Him, too.

The joy of friendship on earth is only a refection of friendship with Jesus. The best friendships on earth encourage us on our journey toward knowing Him more deeply every day.

Your friend,
Pastor Steve
I Cor. 15:3, 4