FRIENDSHIP MAINTENANCE!

FRIENDSHIP MAINTENANCE!

John 6:66-68

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Zech 13:6

6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

Prov 18:24

24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

John 15:14-15

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

          I woke up this morning thinking about a close friend whom I haven’t heard from in a long time. I wondered if it was my fault because the phone lines travel both ways and I haven’t called. I value my friends because they are a special treasure on the rough path of life.

          Our many verses this morning shows Jesus’ great desire to become friendly with His followers. Merriam-Webster defines “friend” as: “One who is attached to another by respect or affection; one who is not hostile.” In John chapter 6 Jesus tried to present a very difficult truth. It was not understood and not well received and so many of the disciples “walked no more with him.” We can hear the pain and disappointment in Jesus’ voice when he asks in verse 67, “will ye also go away?”

          Sometimes a friend will walk away because we have offended them. Maybe we are aware of the reason for the rift but often we are made to guess. Our friend simply walks away. Sometimes our career moves us from one part of the country to another and we simply lose touch. There is no problem except we are no longer nearby. Nevertheless, there is a lonesome hole in our heart that our friend once occupied. We feel incomplete and wonder if they feel the same way.

          Jesus is that friend that sticks closer than a brother. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Friends like that are hard to come by and when we find one they become precious to us. Yet many of us do not treat this special friend in a friendly manner. We do not walk with Him or follow His ways. We do not talk with Him in prayer. We become detached by questioning His principles and our respect and affection for Him is weakened.

          Devotionals, such as this, are really methods of friendship maintenance. We renew our friendship when we review the main points of our agreement. We rehearse those things we mutually love. We stare deeply into one another’s face so that, even when parted, we can recall the image. How is your relationship with Jesus? Are you on friendly terms? Why not reconnect with this old friend today?

Dear Lord, lonely are the moments when I can’t perceive your presence in my life. There is a sort of pain deep within until once again we are reunited. Do not let me stray too far from you today. Stick close to me like a brother. AMEN