Friends, JESUS FREELY OFFERS HIS FRIENDSHIP TO YOU!

Ron Bainbridge

Today’s Message of Encouragement from Discovering A BETTER LIFE MINISTRIES

https://abl-alb.wixsite.com/discoverabetterlife

(Stories of: Real People, Real Events, Real Places)

And are dedicated to HELPING

PEOPLE FIND PEACE and HOPE

(John 10:10)

(Ron Bainbridge Editor) (March 4th, 2020)

JESUS FREELY OFFERS

HIS FRIENDSHIP TO YOU!

Today Friend, I’d like to try defining Friendship by telling you about my best Friend, because He is the most eloquent definition of Friendship I know. -- In fact, when I think of Him, I feel warm all over and secure deep down. Perhaps you’re asking why? Well, the answer is, I know I can talk to Him about anything . . . My successes. – My failures. – My Hopes! -- My struggles. – My weaknesses. – My fears. – My deepest feelings. – Anything!

And when I do talk with Him, I know how He will respond. He will be gratified by my victories and grieved by my defeats. He shares my song and my sorrow, my life and my load. What’s more, He accepts me as I am. Unconditionally!

An old definition of Friendship by George Eliot says this:

“A friend is one to whom we may pour out the contents of our hearts, chaff and grain

Together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.”

As you read what I’m sharing with you today, are you aware that God wants to be your Friend? That fact may seem strange in a way, because it is uncommon for people on different social, educational, or economic levels to become close Friends.

For instance, Prime Ministers don’t generally make pals with peasants. University professors don’t normally fraternize with grade-school dropouts. And six figure executives don’t ordinarily socialize with street people. -- You see, we usually form friendships with those who are like us.

If the bank president and the apprentice teller, because of their differences, seldom become close Friends, it seems unlikely that the God who owns the world and keeps the universe ticking would want to hang out with a girl who can’t balance her cheque-book or a man who can’t fix a leaky tap. If the wealthy shun the down-and-out, it seems doubtful that a glorious God would want to mingle with shabby sinners.

However, doubts notwithstanding, the truth is that God wants to be your Friend. And He knew that would be difficult for us to accept. He knew we would find it hard to feel close to someone so superior—and so far away. So He took an astounding step to bridge the gap. And since we couldn’t become like Him and go where He is, He became like us and came where we are. He stepped down from His throne, took off His robe, changed into His work clothes, and moved into our world.

That’s why the apostle Paul could write to the Philippians and say: “. . . He gave up all He had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a man and appeared in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7)

Friend, God wanted us to know that He knows how we feel. So He went through everything we experience—birth, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. – And, just like us, He got hungry, thirsty, tired, sick, and lonely. – He walked in our shoes and went nose-to-nose with the same temptations that we find ourselves facing. That’s why the writer of the book of Hebrews could say:

“Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the

Contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are . . .”

(Hebrews 4:15).

When Jesus walked on this earth, everyone felt the sincerity and warmth of His Friendship. Tiny tots, along with senile sinners. Winners and losers! Top executives and wayward sons! Crooks and cripples. Prostitutes and puritans, as well as Drop-outs and do-gooders!

He was called a Friend of sinners (Matthew 11:19). And He was that! He was, in fact, the ultimate Friend. “The greatest love,” Jesus said, “is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). -- And then, He did just that---laid down His life for us, His Friends!

That’s why the apostle Paul could say to the Philippians: “He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8).

Friend, as we consider the cross! The final blow! The end! When the last nail was set, His enemies thought they’d done Him in. For a while it certainly seemed that way. -- But they were wrong! Because what transpired was His doing not theirs! You see, Jesus chose to live—and die—for His friends. For me! For you!

In a very real way, it was Jesus' way of saying, “Let’s be Friends. Best Friends!”

Friend, you and I know that many of life’s burdens are too heavy for us. But when we allow Jesus to become a part of our life, the burden, whatever it is, becomes light enough to handle. So if you haven’t realized it before, let me remind you again, that Jesus freely offers His Friendship to you, and it’s a Friendship which makes every burden bearable.

Today, if you’d like to experience the joy of having a real Friendship with Jesus, I encourage you to write to Discovering A BETTER LIFE and request a FREE copy of a small booklet which poses the question, “Need a Friend?”