A Friend of God

You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.—John 15:14

We all have different types of friends. Realistically, many folks we consider friends are just acquaintances. They know our name and we know theirs. On another level, some folks are considered friends based on past associations. I have “college friends” to whom I have not spoken for several years. Other “friends” garner that distinction because they live near us or attend church with us. However, most of these folks are not true friends.

Being a true friend requires some sacrifice. I have heard many men say, “A true friend is a guy who will help you move.” For me, based on that test, I don’t have too many friends. Just ask someone to meet you at your house this Saturday morning to help you load a washing machine or a sofa bed onto a truck. Then, you’ll know how much they like you—you’ll know if they are your friend.

Richard Foster has said, “The desperate need for today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.”

Jesus wants us to go deeper. He challenges us to stop relating to people as business acquaintances or neighbors that we only give an occasional wave, as we drive by their houses or pass them in the hall. True friends do not just talk about popular movies or temperature changes. He commanded “love one another as I have loved you (John 15:12).”

Continuing, Jesus gave us a standard for relating to one another. He said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends (John 15:13).” Talk about deep. Jesus expressed that the highest act of love is to die for another—just as He did for the ones he loved. O.K. We can only conclude friendship is not for “sissies.”

We may not ever have to die for someone, but, to be friends, we are going to have to sacrifice something. Listening, encouraging, forgiving, supporting, waiting, and helping are ways we love others—ways we are deeply friends.

This depth of relating to one another is commanded, not suggested, by Christ. He followed his words with, “You are my friends if you do what I command you (John 15:14).”

Please hear this deep down in your soul. Ready? There is no obedience without sacrifice.

You can’t meet God’s ideal for relationships with others—including your spouse, your children, your co-workers, your enemies—without giving up something. Casual Christians and “I’ll-do-it-if-I-feel-like-it” people are not friends of God. To produce the fruit of love in our lives we must be willing to get dirty. I once heard someone say, "Ministry is messy." If you are really helping someone, you may get soiled, hurt, or even cursed, but this means you are loving people just like Jesus would.

Are you a friend of God? Are you a true friend? How deep are you?

In Ephesians 3:18, it is recorded that Paul prayed that the Ephesians would comprehend “the breadth, and length, and depth, and height” of Jesus’ love. That is my prayer for you today.