Friends Out of Sight

Last year I took a social media hiatus for quite a while.  It was taking up too much of the free time that I did have.  Truthfully, I did not miss it… much.  I did miss seeing actual updates from family and friends that I didn’t see otherwise. I did keep a form of messaging. I checked it during this time and found a note from an old friend.  It definitely made me smile. It always makes me smile when I hear from this particular friend.  She has been away from here for many years,  is out of sight right now — half way across the nation; but would be available If I truly needed her, and is always visible in my heart.

I worked with this particular friend over twenty-plus years ago at the University. We always had so much in common that we called ourselves parallel universe sisters (PU Sisters.) It can literally be years that we don’t talk and when we do it is like just yesterday. Our parallel lives seemed to still have been in tact over the past few years without us even realizing it. We both recently ended up caring for parents as they came to the end of their earthly journeys. I learned recently that we are both now attempting to find our new path in this world without the parents we were caring for. Just another link.  We may be out of sight of each other for long periods of time, but our friendship has stood the test of time.

Do you know that I have a friend that is even closer than my PU Sister?  My Friend is Jesus! How do I know that we are so close? He told me so (in the red words!) 

In John 15:12-17, Jesus told His followers that His commandment was that they love one another the same way He had loved them. That commandment extends to us. He told them that the greatest love anyone could have was to give their life for someone else. I have come to believe that there are a lot of ways you can give your life up for someone else, He also told them that the way He could be sure that they are His friends is if they obeyed His commandments. 

In the beginning of His ministry Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, to serve Him. He is telling them in this passage that He is no longer going to call them servants. He is going to call them friends.  He has been teaching them the things His Father has shared with Him. He told them a Master does not share with a servant His business, the things He is going to do. But He is sharing with them the things He is going to do, so that now makes them friends. 

I suppose in their minds the disciples may have thought that they chose Christ. He actually chose them. He chose them and he authorized them to go out, work and produce fruits from their labors that would last, that would stand.  He told them that those were the things He required of them, and again, yet again,  He commanded that they love one another. 

The challenge in this passage could be, truly—in the day and time we live—to love each other. Until we learn to love each other, we cannot even begin to follow Jesus’ other commands. How are we going to follow through with bringing forth fruit without the first step of loving one another?

How can we apply this passage of scriptures to our lives? The first thing we need to do is apply the love of God so deep within our hearts that it pumps through our veins with every heartbeat. We owe Christ our eternity. We get to spend the whole of eternity with Him, so we need to try and apply His truths to the way we live our lives. You know….try to love Him the way He loved us.

What does this mean to my Faith? My Faith is strengthened by knowing that Jesus made that choice for me. He loves me and He wants a personal relationship, friendship, with me. He has told me to bear fruit. I’m strengthened in knowing that He will provide any materials that I need for any fruit bearing He desires for me to accomplish. 

Lord, I thank You and praise You that You loved me enough to save me from eternal separation from You. I am so honored and happy that You call me Your friend, when I deserved to be no more than a lowly servant. Thank You for Your friendship that is never more than a breath away. Thank You that You are never out of sight and are the very best Friend anyone could ever wish to have. 

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“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.“ John 15:15 (KJV)

“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” John 15:20 (KJV)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” John 13:16 (KJV)

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” James 2:23 (KJV)

“Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;” Ephesians 3:5 (KJV)

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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about Him.  

What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe?  Do you know Jesus? Jesus wants to become your best friend!  Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him?  You can know Him.  Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity.  You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.  

Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ!  PeaceWithGod.net

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