Best Friends

What do you consider a friend to be? How many true friends do you have?

According to Dictionary.com a friend is:
1. a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.
2. a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter: friends of the Boston Symphony.
3. a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile: Who goes there? Friend or foe?

Friends are there for you in times of need or a crisis and you trust that your friend will never cause you harm. One problem that may occur in friendships is when one person is not available when the other needs them. Another is when true honesty is not accepted or given from one or the other. Then feelings change and you no longer want to consider this person a friend.

This is why as much as we value our Earthly friends we need to realize our TRUE friend is Jesus. He is the best friend we will ever have. He has accepted us as we are and laid down His life for us.

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.
(John 15:13-15, NLT)

He hears us at all times and He listens and represents us before God.
Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. (Romans 8:34, NLT)

Our Earthly friends and family may ignore us or hurt our feelings but Jesus never will. He will always give us wise advice because He understands us. During His time on Earth He encountered the same hardships and challenges we did. He had few material possessions, no place of his own to live, constant demands on Him to help people, He was misunderstood and He was crucified for His actions and beliefs. Because of His understanding He sent us His Holy Spirit to guide us into truth. If we meditate on scripture we will receive the insight, direction and encouragement to persevere.

Having a relationship with Jesus Christ and His Father will satisfy like no other. Try Him and see!

Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. (Proverbs 27:6, NLT) Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. (James 4:4, NLT)