Friendship

"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 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." John 15: 9-14

Do friends "command" friends? How can Jesus link our friendship to obeying His commands? If I do not obey His commands am I still His friend?

These words from Jesus have been a mystery to me until this past weekend. A young Brazilian pastor who had just completed the Abide retreat was taking me to the airport so I could return home. The two hour drive from 10 p.m. until midnight was a rich opportunity to clarify what it means to abide.

Suddenly, the pastor asked me about his verse on obeying and friendship. I prayed a quick prayer for wisdom and God gave me a new insight. I shared it with the pastor.

When we make friends with another person, there is always a point of contact that allows the friendship to be born. The point of contact is something my new friend and I both enjoy. It may be reading, fishing, talking or even a mutual friend that we share with one another.

If I call my new friend who loves to fish like I do, and I command him, "Go fishing!" he does not feel forced. He feels encouraged. He will say with joy, "Let’s go!"

I have a dear friend in South Florida who owns a beautiful boat and he loves to fish. Needless to say, we connect. If I called him right now and said to him, "Brian, go fishing." He would say "Thanks for thinking of me and caring about what makes me happy."

Brian is a pilot and he loves to fly. Brian would never call me and say, "Bud, go flying." Why? He knows we still do not connect when it comes to flying. He would call and say, "Bud, go fishing."

Friendship with Jesus means we connect when it comes to loving God and loving others. We both enjoy loving God and loving others. Jesus taught us to love like He does so we could become His true friends.

When Jesus calls you today, He will say, "Go out there and love!" If you are His friend, you will say, "Let’s go!"

I am sure the young Brazilian pastor thinks I spent years understanding this. Little did he know that my friend Jesus explained it to me at that moment. That is what friends do for friends. They help you do what you both enjoy and need to do.

I command all my friends who love to fish, "Go fishing and I will go with you." Brian, are you listening?

Jesus commands all of His friends who love to love, "Go love and I will go with you." Are we listening?