To Be A Friend…

Morning!

Raises his cup of coffee

Isaiah 41:8-13

“But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right Hand.’  Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them—Those who war against you shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing.  For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’”

We’re starting this morning in Isaiah. In this chapter, God reassures Israel that He is with them—their protector, their strength, their help in times of need. From this passage, we see both the power of God and the promises of God to reward Israel’s faithfulness and righteousness.

And how does He reward them?

With strength and peace.

But this passage also brings another thought to mind: relationships.

A friend relationship is different from a servant relationship.

An enemy relationship is one of opposition.

And yet, some relationships overlap.

•One can be both a servant and a friend. •One can be a servant and an enemy.

•But an enemy cannot be a friend. The two are in direct opposition.

So why am I thinking about this?

Because in this passage, God calls Abraham His Friend.

John 15:12-17

*“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My Name He may give you.  These things I command you, that you love one another.”

It’s easy to read this passage and picture something big and dramatic—

A bold death scene.

A moment of ultimate sacrifice in the face of terrible danger.

But what about the small sacrifices?

• Making breakfast for your spouse.

• Cleaning a toilet for your boss.

• Helping a friend when you’re exhausted.

Aren’t these also acts of laying down our lives for others?

Jesus calls us friends, but He also sets requirements for that friendship.

• Do we listen to His commands?

• Do we love one another as He loved us?

• Do we bear fruit in our lives that honors Him?

And so today, the question is:

How are we going to lay down our lives for Jesus today?

It doesn’t have to be big.

But it does have to be real.