John 15:14

Amazing – what an opportunity held out for mere mortals – the dust of the earth offered friendship with their Creator – Limitlessness friends with vaporous flesh - how unearthly. In yet another of one of the many “if” - “then” statements found in Scripture, Jesus tells His followers – both then and now – we are His friends if we are obedient to His commands – walk in His ways – follow His lead. It is our Divine choice to fully live in the present. We are the big losers if we miss out on this. Friend of the most High Triune God – friend of the One who spoke creation into being and sustains it with His mighty Word – friend of our great Intercessor who ever pleads our cases sitting at the right hand of God the Father – friend of the One who died for us in order for us to truly live through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit – again, we are the great losers if we forgo this surreal opportunity. Blameless and faithful Job speaks of his knowledge of our great Intercessor even prior to our Lord’s incarnation – a future foretaste for all fellow followers:

19 Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. 20 My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; 21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend. Job 16:19-21 (NIV)

Further, in speaking of Jesus - the great High Priest - the writer of Hebrews states:

24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Heb 7:24-25 (NIV)

Jesus tells us we are not to consider ourselves as the Lord’s friend if our choices are to habitually refuse to follow His commands. That is, quite frankly, a pipe dream destined to simply go up in smoke. Furthermore, to be his friend carries with it abundant joy and peace. Our joy lies in our acquiescing to His will and ways – which are always perfect - albeit often difficult – and always lovingly for my good. It is there where perfect peace is found. When I stomp my feet and demand my own way I not only forgo friendship and stymie my growth but also my ultimate joy.

“Very striking is it to observe how frequently our Lord returns to this great principal, that obedience is the great test of valid Christianity, and doing the real mark of saving faith. Men who talk of being “the Lord’s people,” while they live in sin and neglect Christ’s plain commands, are in the broad way that leads to destruction.” John Charles Ryle

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25 (NIV)

“The work we do is only our love for Jesus in action. If we pray the work...if we do it to Jesus, if we do it for Jesus, if we do it with Jesus...that’s what makes us content.” Mother Teresa

Jesus is the friend Who sticks closer than a brother. It is He Who will never leave us nor forsake us. We can trust Him. In my own personal walk of sanctification – of growing up in Christ – of living the abundant life – or whatever term you may desire to put on it, He has and continues to be a Phenomenon. As I relinquish more and more control of my life to Him – a narrowing so to speak – a walk of becoming more like Jesus and less like Beth, He has proven faithful to His promises and tenderly loving as a good Shepherd. When I stubbornly refuse to walk in His way, I stymie my growth and bring upon myself undue burdens and loss. He is always faithful – I am the one who wanders. He has been and continues to be the aroma that fills me so that I may leave His fragrance in every encounter. He has been and continues to be my sufficiency and strength. He has been and continues to be the grace needed for every trial, pain and experience I walk through. He has been and continues to be the magnified joy in every mountain top experience I encounter. He has been and continues to be waves of grace giving way to waves of grace in my life. He has been and continues to be my All. Furthermore, it is His desire to pour forth the incomparable riches of His grace to all His friends:

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:4-10 (NIV)

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Eph 3:20-21 (NIV)