JESUS OUR FRIEND.

 CHRIST ALONE

SEPTEMBER 12

JESUS OUR FRIEND.

Greater love hath no man than this, 

that a man lay down his life for his friends. 

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever

   I command you.          John 15:13, 14

Friendship is the sweetener of human life. 

But how difficult to find a friend,
  whom we can trust,
  with whom we can be familiar, and
  to whom we can commit our all!

Indeed, such a friend is not to be 

  found among fallen men. 

But Jesus is that Friend. 

He lived, he suffered, he died,

  to secure our friendship and 

  to prove himself our Friend. 

Yes, he laid down his life for us; 

  but he rose from the dead, and

  is now the Friend of all who 

  put their trust in him. 

To him we should look for all we need; 

  for he is able and willing to supply us. 

To him we should go with everything

   that troubles us; for he is ready 

   to listen, relieve, or counsel us. 

Nothing should be kept back from Jesus. 

He considers nothing beneath his notice 

  which affects the peace, or prosperity, 

     or happiness of his people.

Whatever troubles us, interests him. 

Our little everyday troubles and annoyances 

  should be carried to his throne of grace, 

   and whispered in his ear. 

For lack of this, very frequently our 

  little trials affect us most, just because 

  we try to bear them ourselves, and 

  do not think it worth while to 

   trouble him with them. 

Trouble him! 

Indeed it never troubles him when 

  we carry our concerns to him. 

If anything troubles him,

  it is when we try to do without him, and

  to bear our trials without his aid.

We cannot be too intimate with Jesus. 

Indeed, it would sometimes be well for us

  if we were very intimate with Christ alone. 

If we trust the creature,

   he will most probably deceive us; 

  but Jesus never will. 

If we lean on the creature,

   we lean on a bruised reed; 

   but Jesus is the Rock of Ages. 

My soul, make Jesus your Friend; and 

  show yourself friendly by frequent visits,

  free communications, and steady confidence.

Henceforth I call you not servants; 

  for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: 

  but I have called you friends; 

  for all things that I have heard of my Father 

   I have made known unto you. 

                                                   John 15:15

 James Smith 1855