Have You Found a Friend in Jesus?
Besties. BFF’s. Life-long friends.
Friend is such a wonderful and endearing term. And we all long for friends because they make our lives richer.
I still keep in touch with friends from high school and college. Also, over the years, the Lord blessed me with new friends.
You see, we moved a lot when my husband and I were in church ministry. So I prayed for at least one friend in every new town.
Early in our marriage, we moved to a small farm town in a new state. Our daughter was only eighteen months old at the time. Gracious ladies from the church brought us dinner for a few nights and I unpacked boxes while our daughter napped during the day.
Still, I’ll never forget the Sunday when a young woman approached me after a church service. “Do you need anything?” Her sentiments seemed honest and heartfelt. I politely thanked her and continued with: No, we are fine.
But as I started to walk away, I felt the Lord nudging me to turn back around and tell her I needed a friend. With the Lord helping me to be brave, I walked toward her: I thought of something I need, I really need a friend.
You know what? We formed a wonderful friendship and kept in touch when my family moved again. It was a God-thing.
Friendship with Christ
The good Lord created us as relational beings, first with Him, then with others. For that reason, it makes sense to not only understand the importance of friends in our lives, but to also celebrate a friendship with Jesus Himself.
But in order to find a friend in Jesus, we must find Jesus as Savior and Lord.
I made the decision at sixteen to give my heart and life to Christ. And I found a wonderful friend in Jesus.
Scripture has much to say about friendship with the Lord.
Friendship of of the Lord: Friend in Jesus
“The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” Psalm 25:14 (ESV)
“And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’—and he was called a friend of God.” James 2:23 (ESV)
Do you know Jesus as Savior? Friendship with the Lord means we have a holy fear for who He is as mighty King. And we believe and keep His covenant.
Do you know Jesus as Savior? Friendship with the Lord means we have a holy fear for who He is as mighty King. And we believe and keep His covenant. Share on X
A Friend’s Love and Wise Counsel
“A friend loves at all times.” Proverbs 17:17 (ESV)
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)
“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” Proverbs 27:9 (ESV)
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)
Do you know Jesus as friend? Jesus loves us always. Christ sticks closer than a brother. Jesus offers wise counsel out of His mighty Word. We walk and talk with Jesus as friend.
Do you know Jesus as friend? Jesus loves us always. Christ sticks closer than a brother. Jesus offers wise counsel out of His mighty Word. We walk and talk with Jesus as friend. Share on XFriend in Jesus: Greater Love
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:12-15 (ESV)
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4 (ESV)
Do you know Jesus as the Lamb of God who laid down His life for you? He calls you friend and longs for relationship with you.
Do you know Jesus as the Lamb of God who laid down His life for you? He calls you friend and longs for relationship with you. You have a friend in Jesus. Share on XFriend in Jesus Prayer
Lord, give me the desire to grow my friendship with You daily. Help me not to befriend the world’s ways, beliefs, and perspectives, because they are contrary to Your truth and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Photos courtesy of Friday’s Forever on YouTube.
Last week’s article, 5 Things Only a Loving Creator Would Do.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups: Let’s Have Coffee/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth).
© 2024 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
This brought tears to my eyes, relating to your ministry and finding true friends. Thanks for reminding me of the Lord’s friendship and how he has cared for me over the years.
Mandy, so grateful you not only related to this, but also were encouraged by these words. Jesus is that friend who loves us always, sticks closer than a brother, and offers wise counsel out of His mighty Word. What a blessing to walk and talk with Jesus as friend.
What a friend we have in Jesus! He is ever and always will be the truest friend we can ever have, and God knows how much earthly friendships are needed, too. I’m blessed to have a friend in you, Karen. Blessings!
Thank you, Martha, you certainly are a blessing to me as friend. Jesus is the “truest friend.” Lord, give us the desire to grow our friendship with You daily.
Amen. He calls us friend. He loves us more than we can know. What a friend we have in Him! Thank you for this beautiful message.
So mindblowing that He calls us friend. “I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 (ESV)
Oh Karen, this is a beautiful message. Deep down, we all long to have one good friend. I can’t imagine how difficult this is for folks who move a lot. Thank you for reminding us that Jesus is that friend of all friends, who sees, hears, knows, and loves us like no one else ever could. What a blessing!
Melissa, I liked how you said, “Jesus is that friend of all friends, who sees, hears, knows, and loves us like no one else ever could.” Amen to that! We do so long for friendship, but I pray we long even more for friendship with the Lord. God bless!
What a friend is Jesus is my favourite song.
James, that’s a powerful song that sings so much love and joy over our hearts and souls! God bless!
I found myself singing “what a friend we have in Jesus” as I read your inspiring message today Karen. He is the best friend we could have in this life.
He is our very best friend in this world and for all of eternity! God bless!
Jesus is the only friend who can change our eternal destiny. He is the best guide through this life. Thanks, Karen. God bless!
Yes and Yes, Nancy. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 ESV
I love that Jesus considers me his FRIEND, that he said, “I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” True friends share it all…. and he did just this. I haven’t known a truer friend than my Jesus!
Jessica, I haven’t known a truer friend than Jesus either! Well said! “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” Psalm 25:14 (ESV)
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