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John 15:15 (HCSB)

I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesnt know what his master is doing. I
have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from
My Father.
150 years ago Joseph M. Scriven wrote a song that many Christians learned by heart in
their childhoodWhat a Friend We Have in Jesus. It still rings true today.
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Jesus wants to be your best friend. He died to open the way for you to have a relationship
with God. While there are many things one can do that hinders us from the best (generally
called sin), sin is basically unbelief in God and his ways. This cannot be changed without
coming into relationship with him since our minds are so warped that we cannot 'see the
kingdom' (John 3:3) without the help of the Holy Spirit revealing it. Many come to salvation
and see no more than freedom from damnation. They struggle with condemnation and
feelings of guilt instead of enjoying this wonderful friendship.
Just think of the people you know and contrast those who are acquaintances with those
with whom you are bonded in relationship. There is a level of caution and guardedness
attached to the first group that doesn't exist with true friendsthose you want to spend time
with and look forward to seeing. Often there is a feeling of anticipation to share your life; there
is so much to talk about. They are someone you can depend on when you need help and a
mutual caring for one another.
The dictionary defines prayer: To speak to God especially in order to give thanks or to ask
for something. Prayer is family time with your most influential friend. Is that true for you, or is
prayer an obligation? Many lack a desire for prayer because they've bought into 'fire
insurance'freedom from damnation. Often there is an underlying restlessness in
maintaining an assurance to this end. The certainty that nothing can separate you from God's
love is replaced with a focus on failure. However, Jesus took all of your sin to the cross so you
can be led by the Spirit into deep friendship.
After he was resurrected he demonstrated his kind of friendship to his disciples one
morning by a lake. He called out to them, 'Friends, haven't you any fish?' 'No,' they
answered. He said, 'Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.'
When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish (John
21:5-6). He saw their lack and addressed it so he could give them the solution. And that
solution was more than enough. Not only that but he already had cooked fish waiting on the
shore. He was both the solution and the supply and still is today.
This friendship grows when we acknowledge our need for help to God. It progresses with
the renewing of our mind in conjunction with our will and emotions (our soul). When you let
Jesus be your best friend you will want to talk with him often.

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