A real friend is one who shares your feelings and be with you in all your troubles. In our world there are lots of friendships. We share messages / sms with our friends and also celebrate a day called ‘friendship day’. But there are very few friends in this world who care for us and help us in our troubles.
When I shared my troubles with one of my friend in England, he came down all the way to India to share my feelings, most of the “so-called” friends in this world are liars and undependable. But only Jesus Christ Himself is our only real friend.
John 15:13 says- “Greater love has no-one than this, that he laid down his life for his friends”.
We give gifts and sometimes very valuable ones, to our friends but the love and sacrifice of Jesus is incomparable to our earthly friendship.
Real friends need to share, help and revive each other, if you can’t do that, you cannot be called a trust worthy and true friend.
John 15:14 says- “You are my friends if you do what I command”.
You don’t have to die for Jesus, but you only obey his commandments you will indeed become his true friend.
When a student passes his exams, he shares his joy with all his friends; similarly Jesus also shares everything with us. Jesus has revealed all things to us (his friends), that he has known from God.
I Corinthians 4:1, 2 says- “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful”.
When we are in a friendship, we need to be truthful towards each other, but there are so many untruthful friends. Let me share with you, some instances from my life.
Once my friend stole my notes, during my exam time, I realized that one of my close friend had my notes with him.
Also once I and my friend where traveling in the bus to write our exams. As I studied late into the night, I felt sleepy so I told my friend to wake me up when the stop nears. But he did not do so, but went his own way when the stop arrived. After some time I woke up and was perplexed to know that my bus stop has passed long ago. I hurried back to my exam center and gave my exams, but the person (friend) who betrayed me, failed.
In the past, I had a lot of friends from many areas, but now not a single friend is in touch. I thought they were my true friends, but they have altogether ditched me. Some made friendship with me, expecting a favor in return. But Jesus is the only true friend, who loved us unconditionally, revealing all that the Father said, in the scriptures. He revealed it to his disciplines from time to time. Only when a friend shares his secrets with the other, he is a real friend.
Jesus never revealed your secrets to other, he forgives your sin, when you confess, and forgets it forever. A true friend forgives once you confess your sins, believe Jesus has forgiven you, don’t keep on having the same guilt inside your heart, even after you confess. But if you don’t confess, he will reveal the same through his chosen servants. God reveals his secrets to his servants; nothing can be hidden from the servants of God.
God looks at Abraham and says, “You are my friend”
II Chronicles 20:7- “Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?”,
Isaiah 41:8- “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.”,
James 2:23- “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”.
God looks at Israel and says you are the friends of my friend Abraham.
In Genesis 18:17 “And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;” God says I don’t want to hide anything from Abraham. Similarly He does not hide anything from his trustworthy servants.
In Exodus 33:11, “And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle”.
God spoke to Moses like a friend directly, face to face. It is more like a meeting a person and speaking directly instead of talking over the phone. If we therefore spend time with God through prayer and walk according to His word, He will talk with us and lead us by His hand.
