A Friend

‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’ is a common proverb that we all know. Sometimes children, and maybe adults, have good friends that they fall out with, then make up, then fall out again. It has been said that a friend is: a person who helps at a difficult time; a person who you can really rely on.’ I can say that my best human friend is Jean, my wife. We were very good friends before we got married, and that friendship has continued and deepened. But what is a friend? How would you describe a friend?

I would like to share with you something that I wrote a long time ago, in 1978:

A friend is someone who listens to my fears and heartaches.

A friend is someone who cares for my greatest need.

A friend is someone who loves me when I am at my best.

A friend is someone who understands my deepest emotions.

A friend is someone who shares my joys and my sorrows.

A friend is someone who loves me when I am at my worst.

A friend is someone who encourages me in the daily pressures of life.

A friend is someone who is always near to strengthen and to comfort me.

A friend is someone who loves me with an unconditional love.

A friend is someone to whom I have committed my life.

My Friend is Jesus.

Those sentiments are just the same today as they were when I penned them. Perhaps we have all experienced friends who have let us down, have been unreliable, have turn against us, have even forgotten or neglected us. That could never be said of the Lord Jesus, Who loved us and gave Himself for us.

The Word of God, the Bible says, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother”. No friend, no family member, will ever come as close to you as our Lord Jesus … He Himself is that Friend. That is a tremendous fact; that God’s only Son, the Lord Jesus, our Saviour … can be our Friend. Can your heart … can your mind … can you … grasp the enormity, the safety, the security, the assurance of that fact: that we can know God as our Friend?

And yet, there is more wonderful news:  The Lord God Almighty says that we can be  HIS  friends!

God’s Son, our Lord Jesus, Who came into this world to die in our place, to take the punishment for our sins and to reconcile us to His Father says,

“Greater love has no-one than this, that He lay down His life for His friends.

You are My friends, if you do what I command

God’s Word tells us, The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend” “Abraham believed God … and he was called God’s friend”        How wonderful is that?

As you read, (or sing), the following well known hymn, can you agree with the writer’s experience?

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

 

Do you know that?

Ron Brickman

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