Be a friend like Jesus

Itell the church I’m glad they show up on Sunday mornings because during the week as I prepare my sermon I step on my toes and by Sunday I need a break. In other words, I need to step on someone else’s toes. This Sunday I’m going to teach about God’s plan for friendship. I’m not sure I’m a very good friend. The Blonde says I am but there is always room for improvement right? Jesus said He was my friend in John 15 so it’s not like I don’t have a good example of what a friend looks like or acts like. I brag a lot about my older brother, I’m biased but I call him the world’s greatest older brother. He treated me like a friend. I guess in many ways he was the best friend I’ve ever had (outside of Jennifer, she is the ultimate BFF). My o l d e r br ot he r included me, he protected me, he showed me the way, he corrected me, he forgave me when it was needed, he was my example (sometimes good and sometimes not so good) and he loved me without conditions. I am so thankful for God giving me that relationship. I am learning about friendship this week so don’t give up on me yet. If you haven’t noticed, it’s hard out there. People are hurting and it’s not getting easier.

We need friends now more than ever, and I’m not talking about Facebook friends. Befriending others, really caring, cultivating relationships should not be so hard.

In fact it should be one of the real joys of life. Proverbs 27:9 tells us, “Just as lotions and fragrance give…delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.”

I want to be a Proverbs 27:9 friend. I want to be your cheerleader rather than your critic. We already have enough of those, don’t we? Maybe our goal as the church should not be to end poverty or get prayer back in school or get a copy of the ten commandments hanging in every public building in America. (It’s not like we don’t know the rules, we probably don’t need to be reminded of the rules as much as we need relationships including a relationship with the best friend ever, His name is Jesus.)

Maybe the church should strive to be a sweet friend that refreshes the souls of people.

I could be wrong but I think social gravity pulls us towards our tribe, people like us.

I get it but Jesus was different. Twice in Scripture we are told Jesus was a friend of sinners, yikes!

Imagine being in your high school cafeteria and Jesus comes through the lunch line (it’s pizza day by the way). He looks around and the football team is saying, “Jesus, come over here!” And the table with the cheerleaders is saying, “Jesus, come sit with us!”

Where does Jesus go to eat His lunch and hang out?

He would go to the table that would be social suicide, He would sit with what we might call the misfits. If we were honest it’s the table that we all belong at, because we are all messed up. And it’s not that cheerleaders and football players are not sinners in need of a Savior, but I think you get my point.

Pastor Chuck Swindoll has said, “God has put a desire in the human heart to know and to be known, to love and to be loved.” I want to be like Jesus and help fulfill those needs in others. I want to be a friend like Jesus.

Andy Rooney reminded us, “Good old friends are worth keeping around whether you like them or not.” Friends matter, both having them and being one. There you go.

He told me to tell you that.