If you want true friends, BE ONE! ARE YOU A FRIEND?
________________
John 15:13-15 – 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.
_________________
Are you willing to lay your life down for someone; anyone? This does not necessarily mean you have to die. What it DOES mean is that you are willing and actionably engaged in giving, working, and sacrificing for another person to the same level that you will for yourself, and at times, even place the other person before yourself by delaying your own personal attainment of a desire.
Jesus said you were His friend if you do “whatsoever” He commands. Since Biblical love is defined as “keeping His commandments,” then to truly love someone, to be a true friend to someone, you must be obedient to the Word of God in your relationship with that person. You may demonstrate affection (storge love) or brotherly love (phileo love) towards a person without being a true friend, but ONLY by demonstrating God-love (agape love) can you be a true friend. Are you keeping the commandments of the Lord, even the tough ones, toward others?
And let us not miss this powerful point. Jesus said that He reveals “all things (He has) heard of (His) Father . . . unto you.” Are you regularly, daily, consistently, and regularly receiving revelation from the Lord in your life to you for you and the body of Christ? Is your relationship with Jesus such that He is showing you divine secrets through and by Holy Spirit and through His Word?
Take a moment to reflect on the questions I have posed to you in today’s Second Miler. If your answers to the questions posed in the previous three paragraphs is “YES,” then YOU ARE A FRIEND, and Holy Spirit is thrilled to work in your life. If not, then you have some work to do. Don’t fret. You have the best possible helper in the person of Holy Ghost. Put Him to work today. He is surely ready. Once again I ask, “ARE YOU A FRIEND?”
Manna for Today – John 15:1-17; Proverbs 18:24; 1 Samuel 18:1; Matthew 7:12; 1 Corinthians 13; Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:34; 1 John 5:3
http://www.eaglesnestforum.com – http://www.facebook.com/eaglesnestforum
My Second Miler by Dr. Beechard Moorefield 