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W h e n w e m e e t n e w p e o p l e , a n d f o r m f r i e n d s h i p s - t h e f i r s t t h i n g y o u w o u l d d o i s t o k n o w e v e r y t h i n g a b o u t t h e p e r s o n a n d<br />
spend as much time with them and ask many questions of interest example; where are you from? Who are your parents? What<br />
i s y o u r n a t i o n a l i t y ? W h a t d o y o u d o ? E t c .<br />
And the relationship with Jesus is no different, Jesus desires us to be with him and we have to form that deep relationship<br />
with Jesus as our Friend, who will never fail us, no matter what happens, He is the faithful friend.<br />
Some ways we can get to know our Divine friend and Lord: Reading the Bible – the Holy word of God and meeting Jesus at<br />
M a s s – a n d r e c e i v i n g H i m a s w e l l a s m e e t i n g J e s u s i n E u c h a r i s t i c a d o r a t i o n a n d g o i n g t o C o n f e s s i o n a n d m e e t i n g J e s u s i n a<br />
d e e p wa y, w h e r e H i s c o m p a s s i o n a n d m e r c y i s s h o w n t o b e r e c o n c i l e d w i t h J e s u s i f w e h a v e n ’t b e e n a f a i t h f u l f r i e n d t o<br />
J e s u s , a n d l i v i n g o u r l i v e s a s c h i l d r e n o f G o d b y h a v i n g a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h J e s u s .<br />
When you read the Gospels we see the deep relationship Jesus developed with his followers. We look for passages from<br />
Scripture that are more likely to show Jesus acting more as a friend than a teacher (although the two are closely related,<br />
L u k e 1 2 . 4 : “ I t e l l y o u , m y f r i e n d s , d o n o t b e a f r a i d o f t h o s e w h o k i l l t h e b o d y a n d a f t e r t h a t c a n d o n o m o r e . ” ) .<br />
• Jesus told them of His feelings for them.<br />
M y c o m m a n d i s t h i s : L o v e e a c h o t h e r a s I h a v e l o v e d y o u . G r e a t e r l o v e h a s n o o n e t h a n t h i s , t h a t h e l a y d o w n h i s l i f e f o r h i s<br />
f r i e n d s . Yo u a r e m y f r i e n d s i f y o u d o w h a t I c o m m a n d . I n o l o n g e r c a l l y o u s e r va n t s , b e c a u s e a s e r va n t d o e s n o t k n o w h i s<br />
m a s t e r ’s b u s i n e s s . I n s t e a d , I h a v e c a l l e d y o u f r i e n d s , f o r e v e r y t h i n g t h a t I l e a r n e d f r o m m y F a t h e r I h a v e m a d e k n o w n t o y o u .<br />
( J o h n 1 5 . 1 2 )<br />
• Jesus was concerned with their peace of mind<br />
Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. (John 14.1)<br />
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor<br />
l e t i t b e f e a r f u l . ( J o h n 1 4 . 2 7 )<br />
Did not Mary Magdalene get up at once from where she sat weeping as soon as Martha told her: “ The Teacher is here and<br />
i s a s k i n g f o r y o u ? ” ( J n 1 1 : 2 8 ) C e r t a i n l y s h e d i d . H o w h a p p y t h e h o u r w h e n J e s u s c a l l s u s f r o m o u r t e a r s t o s p i r i t u a l j o y ! H o w<br />
d r y a n d h a r d o f h e a r t o u r h e a r t s a r e w i t h o u t J e s u s a n d f o o l i s h a n d u s e l e s s f o r w e a r e t o d e s i r e a n y t h i n g b e s i d e s J e s u s f o r<br />
t h a t d e s i r e c a n h a r m u s m o r e t h a n i f w e s h o u l d l o s e t h e w h o l e w o r l d ! F o r w h a t c a n t h e w h o l e w o r l d g i v e y o u w i t h o u t J e s u s ?<br />
Being without Jesus is the torment of hell , but to be with Him is the joy of paradise. If you have Jesus there is nothing an<br />
e n e m y c a n d o t o y o u . T h o s e w h o f i n d J e s u s , f i n d t h e p e a r l o f g r e a t p r i c e – b u t t h o s e w h o l o s e H i m l o s e a l l . T h e y a r e i n d i r e<br />
p o v e r t y w h o l i v e w i t h o u t J e s u s , b u t t h e y a r e r i c h e s t w h o l i v e w i t h H i m .<br />
We drive away Our Lord Jesus and push him aside , when we should choose outward things that distract us from Jesus.<br />
And if we drive away Him ,where would we go and to whom will we look for a friend?<br />
J e s u s i s o u r m o s t d e a r f r i e n d , t o h a v e H i m i s t o h a v e e v e r y t h i n g , J e s u s m u s t b e l o v e d e x c l u s i v e l y. H e a l o n e i s p r o v e d g o o d<br />
a n d f a i t h f u l a b o v e a l l o t h e r f r i e n d s . F o r H i m a n d i n H i m , y o u m u s t l o v e f r i e n d s a n d e n e m i e s a l i k e , p r a y i n g t o H i m f o r t h e m ,<br />
that all may come to really know and Love Him Jesus Christ our Lord and Faithful Friend!
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