Who’s Your Friend?

Posted by laurieetta on January 12, 2015 in Being Human | Leave a comment

I have been blessed with amazing friends. We don’t see each other as much as I’d like, but when we do, it’s as if we’ve never been apart. We laugh together, cry together, support and encourage each other, and tell each other things that we wouldn’t tell someone we don’t trust. Friendship is an amazing gift.

Ain’t it amazing that Jesus has called us “friend.” (John 15:15) He laughs with us, cries with us, and knows us much better than we know ourselves and—here’s the good part—loves us anyway.

The text from Psalm 55 (see below) is David’s lament after being wounded by a close friend. We’ve all been there. We’ve all had people who have let us down and disappointed us. And we’ve done the same to them, I’m sure. But what if we read David’s words as if they come from Jesus? “It is you, Laurie, my companion and close friend, who has insulted me.” Ouch.

How do I insult Jesus? Many ways, I suppose. When I do things “out of selfish ambition or vain conceit” (Philippians 2:3) and toss humility and grace out the window. When I make judgments that aren’t mine to make. When I rely on my own understanding and ignore his words, “do not be afraid.”

Thinking of Jesus as my friend “with whom I enjoy sweet fellowship” re-frames my relationship with him into something more intimate and meaningful. I don’t want to let him down—not because I think pleasing him will get me more blessings or be my salvation—but because I love, admire and respect him and our relationship. He is my companion and close friend. And I think that is pretty sweet.

Being human connection: In a song by Chris Tomlin, he says, “The one who reigns forever, he is a friend of mine.” Pretty amazing to think about. And if that’s true, then whom shall I fear? 

If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, someone like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God. -Psalm 55:12-14