Relationships are like beautiful gardens. The seeds are planted but must be watered and pruned so that they can grow in a healthy and productive way.
It’s so great to spend time with friends. Those special people who have been with you through life. They have seen you cry, laughed with you, encouraged you, picked you up when you were down and even corrected you and set you on the right path again. Friends are one of life’s most valued treasures.
John was one of Jesus’ closest friends. John had been with Him from the beginning and it was John who was standing with Mary, the mother of Jesus, at the foot of His cross. He loved Jesus. In the first few verses of I John he reveals his purpose for writing this letter.
“We are telling you what we have seen and heard, so that you may share in this life with us. And we share in it with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing to tell you these things, because this makes us truly happy.” I John 1:3-4 CEV
That’s how I feel each morning when I share my thoughts with you. I write this so that you will be truly happy.
The joy found in friendship/relationship with Jesus is indescribable, complete and will sustain you even in the toughest times.
Jesus is the one who initiates relationship with us; He’s the one who developes the friendship.
“I no longer call you servants, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. But now I call you friends, because I have told you everything that my Father told me.” John 15:15 ERV
This past year has kept us from many of our dear friends but social distancing can’t stop us from pursuing our daily relationship with Jesus. The Bible tells us that there is one who sticks closer than a brother. That One is Jesus.
When fear and depression sweep in like a tidal wave He is there. When inexpressible joy elevates us to the heights of emotion He is there. When our daily walk has us on an even plain He is there.
Maybe you’ve thought that God was too big or that you were too insignificant to have a real relationship, a friendship, with God. King David wrote these words. He marvelled at the thought of God’s pursuit of relationship with him.
“If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— 12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! 18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” Psalm 139:7-18 NLT
Maybe it’s been a while since you just sat and shared your morning coffee with Him or talked through things on your morning compute but He’s there waiting. Take Him with you on your camping trip, your next ride or hike; share a wave with Him as you surf or let Him go with you as you cast a line.
Friendship with Him is definitely worth cultivating. I guarantee if you draw close to Him He won’t walk away.
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