**I wrote this piece as a result of the #brittneygriner story – WNBA athlete – who has been detained in Russia. Time to bring Brittney home!
What was Jesus like as a friend? Did He shun others, constantly barraging them with nasty words and actions?
We often talk about Jesus being a friend by laying down his life as a ransom for many. But what about the reverse, being a friend to Jesus as well?
Am I willing to lay down my life for a friend? Not just any friend; I am referring to Jesus! To love as He loved, without reservation, just demonstration, unconditionally.
Before the foundation of the world, God made a way of escape from the judgment of sin by sending Jesus.
No sin is too small or too big and outside of the redemptive plan of Christ. No sin is outside of God’s Great Grace or His Great Love, except unconfessed sin. We must acknowledge our sin, confess and ask God to forgive us. Then, make a deliberate commitment to go and sin no more.
Radical love of Jesus who proclaimed publicly that Sodom and Gomorrah would have repented, had they heard the gospel….
We cannot be afraid to love as Jesus loved, acts of intentional kindness is a must, not randomly given.
Jeremiah 31:3 “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
Ephesians 1:4 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”
John 3:16 “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Proverbs 18:24 “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
Matthew 11:19 “The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.”
John 15:3 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
I submit to you that there is a big difference in being a friend to a sinner (as Jesus was) versus being a friend of the world and its systems and ways of doing things.
Matthew 10:14 – 15 “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.”
Matthew 11:23-24 “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”
Abraham was called the friend of God and he interceded and stood in the gap on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lord, you say that I am your friend, please spare them, though at the end of the day, not even 10 were found righteous.
God’s will is that all be saved, and that none perish.
Friendship with God requires that I love my neighbour regardless of race, regardless of the lifestyle he or she chooses to live. That love extends beyond mere lip service. If they are hungry, feed them; naked, then clothe them; sick or in prison, visit them. Whatever the need, if it is in my ability to help, I cannot look away in disgust or condemnation. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All means no one is exempt.
With lovingkindness have I drawn thee. The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous avails much.
It’s been said that love starts at home and spreads abroad. So, I do not have to go across the globe to be a friend to the needy. It starts at home in my own neck of the woods, by being neighbourly, by being friendly with those that live where I live.
Sometimes it may seem easier to love others who don’t look like me when they are miles away, when they are more than an arm’s length away. We send food or clothes or medical supplies to distant lands. But what about being neighbour to someone right where I live, where you live?
A lawyer once asked Jesus what should he do to inherit eternal life (see Luke 10). Jesus in turn asked him a question.
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
Wow, what a segway, a set up by Jesus! The lawyer initially stood up to tempt Jesus by asking him a question, forgetting that a lawyer never asks a question without knowing the answer himself. The lawyer had not anticipated that he would be questioned about what the law said. This lawyer had to give an account of not only the letter of the law, but actually practicing and living out the law by actually doing what the law said,
So, when he asked who is my neighbour, Jesus told the parable of a traveler who was mugged and beaten by thieves. They left him half dead on a dark and lonesome road.
Jesus continued with the story with two interesting words in verse 31, by chance.
Three people encountered the dying man – a certain priest, a levite and a certain Samaritan. (I love that word certain, which means “specific but not explicitly named or identified”. In my mind that could be any of us).
The first two saw him, came over and looked at him then passed over to the other side.
But the certain Samaritan, who lived daily with the reality that he was despised by Jews who wanted no dealings with him….
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
Verse 37 still rings true today: Who is my neighbour, more importantly, am I a neighbour?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Go and be a neighbour by doing what the Samaritan did, by helping others and showing compassion.
Luke 9:23 states that daily – And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
To be a friend of God, I must be a neighbour. Love God by demonstrating and loving others. In so doing, God (through you and me) will draw all people to His great love, great mercy, great grace!