Christian Reflection and Prayer

by Julie Ackerman Link

(From Our Daily Bread)

Scripture:
 
Read: John 15:9-17

All things that I heard from
My Father I have made known to you
 . . . that you should go and bear fruit.
(John 15:15-16)
:
Reflection:

Someone has defined friendship as
“knowing the heart of another and
sharing one’s heart with another.” We
share our hearts with those we trust,
and trust those who care about us. We
confide in our friends because we have
confidence that they will use the
information to help us, not harm us.
They in turn confide in us for the same
reason.

We often refer to Jesus as our friend
because we know that He wants what
is best for us. We confide in Him
because we trust Him. But have you
ever considered that Jesus confides in
His people?

Jesus began calling His disciples friends
rather than servants because He had
entrusted them with everything He had
heard from His Father (John 15:15).
Jesus trusted the disciples to use the
information for the good of His Father’s
kingdom.

Although we know that Jesus is our
friend, can we say that we are His
friends? Do we listen to Him? Or do we
only want Him to listen to us? Do we
want to know what’s on His heart? Or
do we only want to tell Him what’s on
ours? To be a friend of Jesus, we need
to listen to what He wants us to know
and then use the information to bring
others into friendship with Him.


Sweet thought! We have a Friend above,
Our weary, faltering steps to guide,
Who follows with His eye of love
The precious child for whom He died.
—Anon.

CHRIST'S FRIENDSHIP CALL FOR
OR FAITHFULNESS