Here is a question for you: How many people would you consider to be your “friend?” The word “friend” is sometimes thrown around loosely, so to answer this question we must first learn what it means to be a friend.
A friend is defined as a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard, as well as a person who gives assistance and support.
Do you know anyone who fits this description? Who do you know who would come and immediately help you when you needed assistance? Who would listen to your directions if you asked them to do something for you? It is these people who are your friends. A friend would stop what they were doing to lend a hand. A friend would see you struggling with a difficult situation and give you support. A friend would listen to your direction and do what you ask them to do. Why? Because they have a feeling of love and affection towards you.
Jesus taught that we are His friends if we do what He commands.
John 15:12-17 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
These things I command you, that ye love one another.
You could pretty much replace the name Christian with the phrase “a friend of Jesus” because they mean practically the same thing, because a Christian is “a person who believes in Jesus Christ and follows His teachings,” which is almost exactly what it means to be a friend of Jesus. A doer of His commands.
Now, people can get all legalistic of what the Lord’s commands are, but Jesus makes it simple to understand by telling us to love one another. In that single, simple command Jesus includes all that we need to do. Love the Lord, and love your neighbor as yourself. If we can do this in all things then we are truly friends of Christ.
1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
1 Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
Who wouldn’t want to be a friend with the King of kings?! We have this opportunity available to us, and it really is not difficult what He asks. Love. That is the Lord’s simple command. The commands of the Lord are not difficult. Just love.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
I want to hear those words, Well done, good and faithful servant, don’t you? Then let us live our lives for the Lord, and offer up our lives to serve Him. Let us devote our love, time, and affection to the Lord Christ, and know that we are friends of Christ.
In Christ
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 