Friend of God | Week 1

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. - John 15:13

Our world is full of loneliness, isolation, anxiety, depression, and a deep sense of wandering. None of us want that in our lives. Yet, we often choose these things over love and friendship. Friendship is possibly more difficult today than at any other time in the course of human history. From 1990 to 2021, the number of Americans who said they have no close friends went from 3% to 33%. There is no doubt that there is a connection between mental health issues and friendship. 

So - what is the solution? Just make more friends? Go out of your comfort zone? 

Well - sort of, but that isn’t the whole picture. 

Here is a basic definition of friendship: A friend is someone who knows you fully and loves you anyway. 

Who in your life knows you fully and loves you anyway? Maybe you have some names, maybe you don’t. Either way - you are in luck. There is a person that knows you fully and loves you anyway. His name is Jesus. He has laid his life down for you. He has shown his great love for you.

Perhaps the best way to begin engaging in friendship with others is to engage in friendship with the God who wants a relationship with you. 

Jesus wants to be your Lord. He wants to be your Savior. He also wants to be your friend. 

Jesus doesn’t want to be in religion with you; he wants to be in a relationship with you. 

Jesus has laid down his life for you because he loves you. He wants to call you friend. 

Reflection Question:

1. Do you view Jesus as a friend? Why or why not? What would it look like for you to have friendship with Jesus?