John 15:12-14
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
INSIGHT
-Friend in Greek is written as phílos which comes from the root phil and means someone dearly and loved in a personal and intimate way. Also a trusted confidant held dear in a close bond of personal affection. God knows our desire to love and to be loved and made us for love and friendship. We find several scriptures that enlighten us about genuine friendship (Job 17:5), choosing the right friends (Prov 12:26, 18:24), friends who become enemies (Ps 41:9), friendship with the king (Prov 22:11), friends who will not have the wedding garment will be cast out into the outer darkness (Mat 22:12-13), friends who persist will receive their request (Lk 11:5-8), friends of Jesus keep His commandments (Jn 15:12-140) etc.
-As we continue to rejoice in the Lords’ death and resurrection, He reveals His love to us everyday. Jesus is our greatest friend, since He lay down His life for us and reconciled us to the Father. As human beings, we are called to share love with one another in the cause of our interactions and relationships through the help of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we are bogged down in life and are low in spirit; in need for friendly consolation or companionship. Jesus reminds us that He is our greatest friend having sacrificed His life for us and has promised us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. As friends of Jesus, we are also called to take heed to His commandments, to love one another and to seek His truths; as we have been chosen to bear fruit that remains.
PRAYER
We thank You Father for this beautiful day that You have day, we rejoice and are glad in it. Guide us Jesus and direct us in our diverse activities today and throughout the week; we humbly ask You. Help us Father to love You and to love our neighbours as ourselves that we may bear fruit that remains. We pray for all the school going children that You may help them to get a grasp of what they study and perform well in their exams. Be with all patents and provide for all their needs. Thank You Jesus for choosing us as Your friends and for the love that You have shown us, we praise You and glorify Your holy name, forever. Amen
Exodus 33:11
So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.
INSIGHT
-In Hebrew friend is written as merea & it means adviser, companion, partner, crony, acquaintance
-Moses had a privilege of speaking to God face to face. This could be attributed to the fact that he was very humble more all men on earth
& faithful in all Israel (Num 12:3,7).
-Abraham was also called the friend of God for his great faith which was accounted to him for righteousness (Jam 2:23).
PRAYER
Thank You Father, for we have started yet another week. Instil in us the virtues of humility, faith, love & righteousness in our way of life. As we seek to get closer to You & those around us, increase our love. We give You all the honour & praise now & forever. Amen
Job 42:10
And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
INSIGHT
-Job’s three friends (Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite) sacrificed to come from different places to console him. These friends stuck closer that his brothers (Prov 18:24). -Job prayed for them despite his demonic affliction & the Lord restored twice as much as he had before.
PRAYER
Have mercy on us Lord & protect us from all evil. As we prioritize our own interests, may we focus much more on the interests of others. Teach us how to pray & may we always remember to pray for others. Amen
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
INSIGHT
-Friend’s who’s conversation promotes socio-economic, emotional & spiritual intelligence; reflect on their faces. This conversation triggers both their minds & the spirits positively.
-A righteous man chooses his friends wisely lest he is led astray (Prov 12:26).
PRAYER
Instill in us the gift of wisdom, Father that we may lift the countenance of others. Help us to choose our friends wisely & strengthen our relations. Amen
Luke 23:12
That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.
INSIGHT
-By Jesus’ divine power, Pilate & Herod who were enemies were reconciled at a time when Jesus was about to be crucified.
-In Mark 2:16-17, Scribes & Pharisees accused Jesus of dining with tax collectors & sinners. Jesus responded that He came to call the sinners to repentance & not the righteous. By this He reconciled sinners to the Father & still does it today by His tender mercies.
PRAYER
We thank You Father; for Your everlasting mercy & love upon us. Cast away all division in our homes, work places, government & the world at large so that we may be reconciled to You. Bestore in us the heart to forgive those who offend us; as You forgive us our trespasses. Amen
John 15:14-15
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
INSIGHT
-Jesus calls us friends as He has revealed to us all things from the Father. A servant is more superior in ranking than a slave but He calls us friends for as much as He loves us; we may love Him also with all our hearts, souls & minds, & our neighbour as ourselves.
SUMMARY
-Moses was more humble than all men on earth & faithful in all Israel. God spoke to Him face to face as a man speaks to his friend.
-When Job was afflicted, his three friends came to console him & stuck closer than his brothers.
-As iron sharpens iron so a man promotes the livelihood of his friends.
-Pilate & Herod became friends by Jesus’ divine power which unites all nations.
PRAYER
We give You thanks Lord, for You have not withheld anything from us. Guide us to always be obedient to Your word & be ready to learn from You. May Your love abide in us in our relations with family, friends & communities all over the world. Amen
Proverbs 18:24
A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
INSIGHT
-It is said that blood is thicker than water, but sometimes good friendships create bonds that run deeper than blood relationships. Loyal friends stick around during good and tough times, and are always supportive. We find Jonathan the king’s son, who jeopardized his life to help David when his father wanted to assassinate him (1 Sam 18:4). Jonathan’s act of sacrifice showed his commitment to David and to their friendship; sticking closer than his own brothers. This is the kind of sacrifice that Christ calls us to uphold for one another. To sacrifice our time, resources, skills and experience for the benefit of our friends. To gracefully correct one another when wrong, bring comfort and consolation during difficult times, work together effortlessly holding fast patience, congratulate one another in their achievements and always seek the best for one another.
PRAYER
Lord You are full of mercy and kindness, we thank You for the gift of friends. Help us to love one another and share genuine friendship as You have called us. Direct us when choosing our friends for You are the one who knows the intentions of our hearts. Be with all those who have suffered lost in natural disasters and have mercy on all the persecuted Christians all over the world. You are our Comforter and Helper Holy Spirit, dwell deeply in us and so that we may never lack any good thing. Amen
Ecclesiastes 4:9
Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labour.
INSIGHT
-To achieve good returns strategic partnerships are important. As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend (Pro 27:17). When people work together; they share ideas, skills, knowledge, networks and most often accrue better returns for their labour. Though is it important to remember that the books we read and the friends we keep should be selected well. Friendship is a God given gift to us, but not all partnerships are beneficial. When selecting our friends; we should always be careful to check their character. Integrity, honesty, fairness, humility, patience, respect, kindness, peace and love are some of the key qualifies to look at. Some of these qualities are not superficial but they are revealed in the course of our interactions. We are told in Proverbs 12:26 that; the righteous should choose their friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray. Those who esteem evil deeds will always get us into trouble with God and before men, when they choose their way. Christ has called us to always love one another and to forgive those who offend us. To bear with each other and forgive always as Christ Himself forgave us (Col 3:13).
PRAYER
We thank You Father for enabling us see this day that You have made, we rejoice and are glad in it. Remember Lord full of justice and kindness; all workers, that they may receive fair treatment and just compensations for their work. Be merciful Lord to those who are unemployed and grant them profitable jobs. Remember also with compassion Father those who are unable to work because of disability, age, marginalisation and other causes that You may sustain them loving Master. Be with us Lord in our work and direct all our partnerships, interactions and business endeavour. Bless the work of our hands Jesus and expand our boundaries. Bless our nation Father that we may always have plenty within our borders. Be with all our national leaders Father that they may desist from corruption for with You all things are possible. Give them the wisdom to undertake their leadership roles with diligence. Grant us the grace Lord to forgive all those offend us and forgive us our trespasses too. We praise You and exult Your holy name Lord. Amen
Luke 11:5-8
And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
INSIGHT
-As the saying goes; a friend in need is a friend in deed. In times of need; we find help and comfort from our friends. Through this parable; Jesus reveals that there are times when friendship fails but perseverance conquers all situations. He tells us to ask and it will be given unto us; seek and we will find; knock and the door will be opened unto us (Lk 11:9). Jesus also reminds us to prayer without ceasing. As we keep praying for our needs, our prayers come to Christ and when we persevere they are accomplished. We also realise that endurance is a two-edged sword which cuts through both; the intentions of the one in need and those of the one giving. Like the one who places the request, we are reminded to endure while doing good; and in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Gal 6:9).
PRAYER
Fill us with the fruit of patience Holy Spirit so that we may not loose heart when praying but persevere to the end. Answer all our prayers and hearts desires Lord; we humbly ask You. Our Father who at in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from all evil. For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen
James 2:23
And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
INSIGHT
-Abraham feared God and through faith it was accounted to Him for righteousness. He was called a friend of God for he believed in Him and obeyed what he was commanded, coming to a point of sacrificing his only son. We know that the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith” (Rom 1:17). We have therefore been justified through faith in Christ and brought closer to the Father through the covering by His precious blood (Rom 3:22).
SUMMARY
Friendship can be classified into two, friendship with God and friendship with man. We obtained friendship with God through His love; when He sent His only begotten Son Jesus; to bear our sins on the cross that we may be liberated from eternal condemnation and be reconciled to the Father. Friendship with man is also the plan of God which exposes us to love for one another, companionship, encouragement, consolation, advice, sacrifice, interaction, joy etc. As much as friendship has been ordained by God; caution should be taken when choosing our friends. Some friends may transform to become our enemies (Ps 41:9), others can lead us astray (Prov 13:20) and only a few can stick closer than a brother (Prov 18:24). Through the law of love for God and for our neighbours; we accomplish both. On this same wavelength, we are called to carry each other’s burdens which is also a fulfillment of the law of Christ (Gal 6:2). It is key to note that Jesus is our greatest friend and calls us to cast our burdens unto Him and to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; for nothing can separate us from His love.
PRAYER
Thank You Jesus for loving us with an everlasting love, we rest secure in Your arms. Thank You for making us Your friends through Your grace; great is Your merciful love. In Your presence there is fullness of joy, peace and mercy, we rejoice in You. We cast all our burdens and cares unto You Jesus for care for us. Answer all our prayers, supplications and hearts desires Jesus; our Father and Friend. You have called us to love You and our neighbours as ourselves, fill our hearts with Your love. Give us genuine friends as grow from faith to faith according to Your great wisdom Lord. Be exulted in all the heavens and earth Jesus; now and forever. Amen