Personal
Have you ever had someone tell you, “Don’t take this personally”, then they say something hurtful to you, personally? How about someone you just meet, then they start a conversation, sharing really personal things? They might even be asking you personal things.
These are all things that make most of us uncomfortable. We all have certain things that we just want to keep private, keep to ourselves. It might not be logical, but we might even try to hide some things from God.
Relationship
It’s good to keep your private things to yourself. If you want a relationship with someone, though, you have to be willing to share who you are, including some (or all) of your most personal thoughts, feelings, embarrassing moments, etc. You also need to open yourself up to listening to the other person’s needs, hurts, and personal feelings. That’s a relationship – sharing with each other.
Fear
Fear is what stops us from sharing more of ourselves with others, including those we love the most. We think, “If they knew this about me, they wouldn’t love me anymore.”
Something you figure out as you get older is that everyone has these secrets. Everyone has things that they want to hide. Everyone has made mistakes. Since that is the case, we really should feel more comfortable with each other, and not feel intimidated, because we think someone else never has any problems.
Comfort
When we reach a certain comfort level with someone, we are more willing to share more about ourselves, because we know they will keep our private things private, and they only want what is best for us. There is a scripture in Proverbs that talks about this kind of friend.
Proverbs 18:24 (NASB)
24 A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Having a really close friend, someone who is “closer than a brother” is precious, and actually somewhat rare. Having this kind of friend and being this kind of friend is special.
Jesus’ Friendship
Jesus spent about three and a half years with His disciples, teaching them, eating and sleeping with them, and caring for all of their needs. They always knew that they could go to Jesus with any problem they had. Jesus, the Son of God, even called them His friends.
John 15:15 (NASB)
15 “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Jesus is our “friend who sticks closer than a brother.” He wants to be our best friend. In fact, when He knew that He was about to be crucified, He told His disciples that He would not leave them alone. He was going to send someone to take His place – someone Who would never leave them.
Holy Spirit
John 14:16-17 (NASB)
16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
In the Greek (the original language of the New Testament), the word that is translated “Helper” here could be translated “attorney”, someone who is called to stand by your side and plead your case, no matter what you are accused of. The Holy Spirit (God) is always on our side, always looking out for our best interests, always ready to listen and give advice. He truly is our best friend, but is He a person or just a thing?
Feelings
Ephesians 4:30 (NASB)
30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
A “thing” can’t be grieved; only a person can. The Holy Spirit is a person, the same way that Jesus is and God the Father is. It’s easy to think of the Holy Spirit as a feeling or a part of God, but He is a person Himself, even with feelings. We don’t know all of the details, but the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are called the Trinity – three Persons, all God individually and together. God cares for us and only wants what is best for us.
He goes before us
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NASB)
6 “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
As the Israelites in the Old Testament were about to enter the promised land, they knew that they had to fight many people who were stronger and more numerous than they were. God told them that He would go before them; He would not leave them. He led them with a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night.
We see this same type of leading and protecting in the New Testament.
Greater is He
1 John 4:4 (NASB)
4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
Have you ever seen kids arguing and one of them says, “well, my dad could beat up your dad?” That child knew that he was not very strong, but he knew someone who was very strong, and he knew that his dad would always protect him.
Our Father is greater than anyone or anything in the universe; He created everything in the universe! We also know that He loves us more than we can imagine.
True love
1 John 4:9-10 (NASB)
9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Jesus was willing to sacrifice everything, just so we could be forgiven of our sins. In verse 10 above, the word, “propitiation” means that He became the sacrifice that we needed. We deserved death, because of our sins, but He took our place – even before we turned away from our sins. He died so that we could live.
Fellowship
1 Corinthians 1:9 (NASB)
9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
This word, “fellowship” refers to sharing. It is not where we pray and God listens. It is also not where God gives us a bunch of hard rules, then tells us to follow them. This fellowship is the same word that is used when you have two or more friends that get together, maybe over a good meal, and they enjoy each other’s company. Each one gives and receives from the other one. This is what we have been called into, if we are living for Christ. He wants fellowship with us. He wants us to share with Him and receive from Him. He is the best friend ever.
Wedding feast
Revelation 19:7-9 (NASB)
7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”
8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he said to me, “Write, Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. ” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”
Jesus calls us His bride. One day, we will be fully united with Him in heaven, forever. Just as a bride and groom anxiously wait for their wedding day, He is waiting for our wedding day. We should also be looking forward to that day with anticipation and great joy. Then, we can fellowship and spend time with our best friend – forever!
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