Friend…

I have them, you have them, we all them those that we call our friends that exist in our live’s.

That word has a new connotation, especially in social media where it applies to people we don’t even really know, who in reality you couldn’t even call them acquaintances.

For a friend true is someone that you trust, someone that you confide in , it is someone who’s going to come along side us in time of need, and always for our best interest.

And of course a friend is someone who does the same for you as you would do for them… no one way friendships.

Doesn’t sound much like a social media friend huh?!?!?!

I’ve come to understand that there’s an even greater meaning for friend when Jesus describes to us when he says,” I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

And there in that passage is what He says a friend really is; everything that they have come to know and understand of God’s love for us is shared… not just somethings but everything.

No walls exist between them

They live in a transparent friendship each one knows other one intimately and personally.

Then you can add this passage as well,” just as I have loved you so shall you love one another “.

There Jesus clearly defines how we are to love our friends… unconditionally; just how He loves us for there is nothing we can do to earn His love. He gives it truly without reason or condition… it is a free gift from God.

There I stop and I ask myself, “ do I love my friends, all time without reason, without cause, not because it’s something they’ve done for me?”

And of course the answer is no.

But by God’s grace and mercy and the work of His spirit living in me He teaches me every day how to love more those that I love, that I call friend… the way He love each one of us.

Lord, teach me daily, minute by minute how to be a friend true as you are a friend true to me.