My Friend, Jesus

Let me introduce you to my friend Jesus. Have you ever felt an instant connection with someone your best friend introduced you to? Simply because your friend knows them, loves them, and cares about them, you have the desire to get to know the person better. It is even more true when Jesus is the best friend we are introducing to our friends. When they see how much we love Him and the difference He has made in our lives, hopefully they will have the desire to know Him as well.

This is also true when Jesus introduces us to one of His friends by crossing our paths. When we see they also know Jesus, it gives us an instant connection, a bond, and desire to get to know them better because Jesus loves and cares about them. The truth is Jesus loves and cares about everyone. Because Jesus is our best friend, we need to love everyone too. If they do not know Jesus yet, it is a great opportunity to introduce them.

I read something this week that resonated with me and provided a framework for what it means to be in a relationship with God and to believe in Jesus. It is not just to know about him in the intellectual sense, and believe He exists, but to fully know Him in our heart. To believe in the power of his saving grace, rooted deep, anchored, steadfast.

We can accept Him and believe with our whole heart, repent, and ask for forgiveness of our sins and enjoy a relationship with Christ. He is a mighty King who takes care of and protects His sons and daughters, so that we can live with Him in eternity, not because we deserve it, but because Jesus is worthy, and He went to the cross for us.

Have you ever stopped to ask God what he wants for you? It is a life changing question. I will tell you what He wants. He wants the best…ALWAYS! He wants to be in an intimate relationship with you. When you ask this question in sincerity, the weight shifts from your shoulders to God’s shoulders. If I had known it would be like this, I would have done it so much sooner. If you do not know Jesus as your friend and protector, what are you waiting for? Jesus saves. We cannot just say we believe in God and go on about our business. Jesus is the best friend we will ever have. He promises never to leave us or forsake us. Jesus is the only way to the Father.

Now more than ever we need to tell everyone we know about our friend Jesus. Sadly, there are people in this world who call themselves Christians who do not reflect the biblical image of Christ at all. It has put a bad taste in some people’s mouths. We cannot group them together with true Christ followers. God will handle those people in due time. But we are still to love and pray for them even when they seem unlovable. I pray that God opens their eyes, minds, and hearts to His truth. I boldly and proudly call myself a Christ follower. For those of you who have a bad taste in your mouth or have been hurt by the church, first let me say how sorry I am for that, and I pray you will see the difference and not give up on God. There is much joy in a true and intimate relationship with Jesus.

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV)

“Vengeance is mine, and recompense (I will repay), for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.” (Deuteronomy 32:35)

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)