A FRIEND OF GOD
A FRIEND OF GOD “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.” (Ex. 33:11)
You know what a friend is! That’s someone you like to be with! A friend is someone you love so much that you want to spend time with them. When a friend has to leave you hate to see them go! When you get a letter from a friend you not only read it over carefully, but you may even re-read it several times. If they are really a close friend you would even die for them. Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)
That is the way that Moses felt about God! That’s why “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.”
GOD DEFENDS HIS FRIENDS
“Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this. (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.” So the three of them went out. Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them stepped forward, he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them.” (Nu. 12:1-9)
As you know, God smote Miriam with leprosy and she had to beg her brother Moses, the man she had just criticized, for mercy: “Please, my lord, do not hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed.” (Nu. 12:11)
“So Moses cried out to the Lord, “Please, God, heal her!” The Lord replied to Moses, “If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.” So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back.” (Nu. 12:13-15)
GOD REVEALS SECRETS TO HIS FRIENDS
Jesus said: “You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:14-15)
God revealed to his friend Moses exactly what He was going to do! “The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land
flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
Step by step and moment by moment God guided his friend Moses to bring plagues upon Egypt that caused the Pharaoh to set God’s people free. When they were safely out of Egypt “Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:“I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea. “The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.” (Exodus 15:1-3)
There are 15 more verses in this song! You might want to read them carefully for in heaven we will be singing the “Song of Moses” (Rev. 15:3-4).
The Scriptures tell us that Abraham was also a friend of God:
•
“O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?” (2 Chron. 20:7) •
“But you, O Israel, my servant Jacob, whom I have chosen, your descendants of Abraham my friend.” (Is. 41:8)
•
“And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.” (Ja. 2:23)
We should not be surprised, therefore, that God not only protected Abraham, but also revealed secrets to him that He did not reveal to others!
So when God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah: “Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” (Gen. 18:17-19)
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:13-15)
Yes! God reveals things to his friends that He does not reveal to others!
SOME SCRIPTURES ABOUT FRIENDS
•
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep
warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Eccl. 9:4-11)
•
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” (Prov. 17:17) •
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Prov. 18:14-25)
•
“Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” (Job 6:14)
•
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.” (Prov. 22:24-27)
•
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.” (Prov. 12:26-27)
•
“Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” (Prov. 17:9)
•
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)
•
“One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend.” (Prov. 22:11)
•
“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2) •
“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Col. 3:12-14)
•
Jesus promised: “Everyone, therefore, who will confess me before children of men, I shall confess him also before my Father who is in Heaven.” (Matt. 10:32)
•
Jesus is the best friend you will ever have!
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
Joseph Scriven was born in Ireland in 1819. He graduated from Trinity College in Dublin in 1842. He fell in love and planned to be married. Sadly, his fiancé accidentally drowned in 1843, the night before their wedding. In 1844, at the age of 25, Scriven, a devout Christian, felt led of God to leave his native country and move to Canada. Around 1857 he moved near to Port Hope, Ontario, where he again fell in love and was due to be married. Sadly, in August 1860 his fiancé fell ill with pneumonia and also died. In spite of the sorrows Joseph experienced, he never questioned the friendship of Jesus. In fact, he wrote the famous hymn, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, that has blessed millions of people all around the world!
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear—
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
This beautiful hymn is a special blessing to the persecuted church. Consider the testimony of John H. Noble who languished for nearly 10 years in Soviet penal labor camps. John was an American citizen and his family owned a camera company in Germany. When the Russian army arrived in 1945 they confiscated his company and put him in prison. Years later he was finally able to smuggle out a post card to his family and let them know he was alive. It was then that President Dwight David Eisenhower was able to secure his release. Noble wrote several books including the book: I Found God in Soviet Russia. That book was published in 1959 and John spent the rest of his life telling the world about his conversion to Christ. He died Nov. 10, 2007 at his home in Dresden, Germany. He was 84 years old. Noble said that those who were part of the underground church in Russia sang “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” as they gathered to worship.
NOT REALLY A FRIEND
Tascille King passed away in 2,007 at the age of 86. She was an outstanding musician and worked as the music director at the Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri for many years. She and her husband George were worship leaders at our church in Carl Junction, Missouri. At a staff meeting, just before Mother’s Day, I asked Tasci what thoughts she had about her mother. With tears in her eyes she shared painful memories from her childhood. At the age of 14 she weighed 250 pounds and in the small town where they lived there was only one coat that would fit her, and she hated it. Her class mates made fun of her because of her weight. When she fell from a swing, with her breath knocked out of her, some “friends” laughed and said: “Don’t worry about Tasci, she will just bounce.” Because she was an excellent piano player, however, these “friends” needed her to accompany them in music competition. So Tasci sat in the back of the car on the way to the competition and her “friends” talked with one another but no one talked to her. She knew they were not really her “friends”. She knew they were merely using her. Then she said: “When I needed a true friend I would go to my mother. She was the one person on earth that loved me regardless of how I looked!”
Tasci overcame her weight problem and was a beautiful woman both inside and out. Sadly, we can learn from her how many people treat Jesus. Many people are not really “friends” of Jesus, but merely use him to get what they want. They really don’t love Jesus. They really don’t want to spend time with Jesus. They really don’t want to read a letter from Jesus. They really don’t even want to talk to Jesus unless it is an emergency. They are happy to have Jesus in the back seat, however, just in case they need him.
JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY A “FRIEND”
David composed the 41st Psalm. In that psalm he wrote: “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (Ps. 41:9) Jesus applied this Scripture to Himself and to Judas Iscariot. When Jesus warned that one would betray Him, He said: “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’” (John 13:18)
Judas Iscariot was one of the 12 apostles. Jesus chose the Twelve after praying all night (Lk. 6:12-16). Jesus obviously trusted Judas for Judas was in charge of the money given to the apostles (Jn.
12:6; 13:29). Also remember that the psalmist described Judas as a close friend in whom Jesus trusted. The apostles also trusted Judas. Jesus warned repeatedly that He was going to be betrayed by one of them, yet even when Judas went out to betray Jesus they didn’t suspect him. When John asked Jesus who would betray him: “Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.”Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.” (John 13:26-30)
Even when Judas betrayed Jesus, Jesus still referred to him as a “friend”. “While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.”Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. (Matthew 26:47-50)
WHAT KIND OF A FRIEND ARE YOU?
On the night before Calvary Jesus said to His disciples: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:13-15)
Jesus was a faithful friend. He said: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” and Jesus laid down his life for His friends. “It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” (John 13:1)
While Jesus was faithful to His disciples, His disciples were not faithful unto Him. They were all with Him in the garden when He was arrested: “Then everyone deserted him and fled. A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.” (Mark 14:50-51).
Jesus had four brothers and at least two sisters (Mark 6:3). None of them were present at the cross. Since Jesus was the oldest son in the family it was his responsibility to see that his mother was cared for. So, as Jesus was dying on the cross, He asked the Apostle John to take care of His mother. One obvious reason why Jesus gave this responsibility to John is that he was the only one of His disciples who was there. John wrote: “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:25-27) John, who wrote these words, kept himself anonymous out of humility, identifying himself simply as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”
BECAUSE JOHN WAS A FRIEND OF JESUS HE WAS THERE WHEN JESUS NEEDED HIM!
BECAUSE JOHN WAS A FREND OF JESUS HE HAD THE SPECIAL HONOR OF CARING FOR MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS!
IF WE ARE TRUE FRIENDS OF JESUS, WE TOO WILL BE AVAILABLE TO DO WHAT JESUS ASKS US TO DO!
If Jesus Came To Your House
by Lois Blanchard Eades
If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two -
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do. Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored Guest,
And all the food you'd serve to Him would be the very best, And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have him there -
That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.
But when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly Visitor? Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they'd been?
Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard? And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loud, hasty word?
Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?
And I wonder - if the Savior spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you always do? Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?
Would your family conversation keep up it's usual pace?
And would your find it hard each meal to say a table grace? Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books your read,
And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you'd planned to go?
Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?
Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends?
Or would you hope they'd stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on? Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know the things that you would do If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you.