October 14, 2017

THE FRIENDS OF GOD

Tribe Recap of October 14, 2017 | John 15 & Pizza Football Party

In John chapter 15 Jesus invites us to abide in him and asks us to keep his commandments saying, “You are My friends if you do what I command you.”  In verse 10 he says, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love.”

Then in verse 12 he says, “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”

When you think of the Ten Commandments you might think of a set of rules, but basically, the Ten Commandments say this, “Live life according to the truth that God is worthy of your life and treat each other well.”  ...treat each other well, love one another...

Jesus appeal to keep his commandments perplexed me a little since we sinners have no way on our own to keep God’s commandments; we are weak and fickle and unable to please God without his intervention.  We are dependent upon God to do anything right at all.

And then it hit me, the ‘commandments’ he is talking about is simply talking about giving attention to taking care of each other.  After all, this is what most of the Ten Commandments are about anyway, and Jesus adds his own commandment in John 15 that we ‘love one another’.

Moses was called the friend of God; he was one of the few people who have ever lived that spoke to God face to face as a man would speak to his friend.  But now, we have this stunning opportunity: if we love each other well we will be called God’s friend.  Spectacular!

When we take the time to listen to each other, to pray for each other, to check in on each other, to overlook the imperfections in each other, when we send that kind note and sooth each other’s worries, we operate in the stuff that causes God to call us his friend.

Think of something deliberate you can do for someone else in our community that would lift their spirits.  Think of what is needed in their life and do what you can to provide it.  Let them know they are not alone.

Do this and you will find a God in heaven who looks upon you as a friend.  Those who love each other well will be called the friends of God, a partner in his grand scheme to save the lost and bring us back into the peace and wonder of his presence.