Author Elbert Hubbard once said, “A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” That is something we appreciate about our true friends, but there is no one that knows all about us more than Jesus. We would not expect Jesus to want to be our friend considering all He knows about us, right?
That’s part of what makes this verse so amazing. In John 15:14 Jesus said these words to His disciples: “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”
You are my friends. The God of the universe spoke those words to mortal men. The Omniscient One saw every sinful act and deed of these men, and still called them friend. By extension, this promise of friendship applies to all of us today who are disciples of Christ.
This is the opposite of what we would expect, but God loves the world so much that He sent His only Son into the world to bring salvation, and also to offer friendship.
Sadly, many people reject this offer of friendship with Jesus in favor of friendship with the world. Consider James 4:4: “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.”
We must choose our friend, so choose carefully. Like an unfaithful spouse, some people run around with the world from Monday through Saturday, then show up for church on Sunday and sing “Oh How I Love Jesus.” James called these people adulterous, claiming they love God, but actually making themselves an enemy of Him.
God loves you and wants to be your friend, but He will not make you choose Him. That is something you must decide for yourself.
I was friends with the world
Way back when I was young;
We hung out together,
We had a lot of fun.
But I wasn’t happy,
Something was off inside.
I couldn’t fill the void
No matter how I tried.
Then I made a new friend,
The Lord Jesus by name;
We’re always together,
I’ve never been the same.
He cares more about me
Than the world ever did;
He cares about you too,
He wants to be your friend.
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