Who Is Your Friend?

“A true friend is worth their weight in gold”, this saying is forever true, no matter how high the price of gold may rise.  A true friend can be counted upon to always keep our confidences, give sound advice, always be there to help in time of need, the list goes on and on.  

Even the Word of God addresses the value of friendship when it says in Eccl 4:9-12…

“Two [are] better than one; … For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him up. …  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

The Bible continues on the theme of friendship by explaining that there is one friend that we can have in our lives that far excels over any other friend we may have.  This friend is described as “ a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.” (Prov 18:24).   This friend is the Lord Jesus Christ…. “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.” (John 15:15)



In Christ, we find a perfect friend.  Why is Christ the perfect friend for us?  Let’s take time to study what the Word of God teaches us about being friends with the very Son of God.

THE SCRIPTURES:

Heb 4:13-16 (KJV)

13) Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14) Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession.

15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.

16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

THE STUDY:

Why is Christ the perfect friend for us?  The Word of God gives us the answer to this question in Hebrews 4:13-16 – In this text, we find 4 reasons why we can rely on Christ to meet our every need when we look to Him as our friend.

Reason #1 – He knows us better than we know ourselves…

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Our Lord knows us better than ourselves… He knows our weaknesses, our likes and dislikes, why we do what we do, our needs, what our future holds, and He ALWAYS knows what is best for us.  When we are facing challenging times in our lives, we should run to Him with the knowledge that He knows us perfectly and understands exactly what we are to do.  (Job 34:21, Eccl 12:14, Psa 139:12) 

Reason #2 – He takes our needs and requests to God...

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession.

Sinful mankind cannot stand in the presence of a Holy God.  This is why Christ’s intercession on our behalf is an absolute necessity. 

Acting as our high priest, Christ died on the cross and now through His shed blood , we are found acceptable in God’s sight.  He is now sitting at the right hand of God, testifying that He has taken the punishment of our sins upon Himself, His blood is now covering those sins, and we are one of His people.  (Hebs 2:17, Hebs 7:25, Hebs 9:24)  

Reason #3 – He knows what we are going through..

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.

Christ, who is God Himself, was born into the earth as the Incarnate God.  He did this not only to die for our sins, but also, so that He could share in the experiences of this world.  He faced temptation (Luke 22:28), disappointment and sorrow (Matt 23:37), loss (John 11:35), hunger (Mark 1:12-13), loneliness (Mark 14:34-40)… the entire human experience.  He even knew the feeling of guilt as He bore our sins upon Himself.   This knowledge of our experiences makes Him the perfect One to run to for comfort and encouragement in times of great distress.

Reason #4 – He gives us the ability to come into the presence of our Holy God…

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

With Christ’s blood covering our sin, we can now, as sinful man, enter into the presence of a Holy God. (Hebs 10:19) It is through Christ that we can look to God for the mercy, grace and help to meet our every need in this troublesome world in which we live…

Heb 13:6 (KJV)

6) So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Oh, what a friend Christ is!

John 15:12-15 (KJV)

12) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

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.

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May the Lord bless your study of His Word.  Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”

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