My Friend Jesus
By Connor McDaniel
When you think of a best friend, what comes to your mind? There are lots of iconic friendships and partnerships from history- Shaggy and Scooby-Doo, Phineas and Ferb, Han Solo and Chewbacca, and the list goes on and on. For me, one of my best friends has always been my dad. There’s a lot me and my dad have in common, mostly from me always looking up to him and wanting to be like him. My dad has always been someone who has had a great influence on me. I can talk to him about anything. He gets my jokes. He is interested in my hobbies, many of which he passed on to me. I love spending time with my dad because he is someone I want to be like, and your best friend probably holds that same distinction.
Think about and zero in on that person. You want to be like them. You like the influence they have on you. And depending on the level of the relationship, you may even go to them for advice. One thing I love about my dad and a lot of my other close friends is they don’t just tell me when I’m doing good things, they also help me know what I need to change. In our close relationships, it is not about me and my friends making each other happy, it’s about helping each other be better. I know my friends love me and that’s why they try and help me be better, and because I like their influence, I listen.
In John 15, Jesus offers some words about friendship, telling His apostles that no greater love can be demonstrated than by laying down your life for your friends, and that Jesus’ friends are those who follow His commandments. Is that not amazing?! Jesus, the Son of God, has extended His hand of friendship to you by laying down His life for you. It can be hard to picture Jesus as our friend. Afterall, it isn’t like you get to hang out with Him or play with Him on Xbox Live. But the most integral parts of friendship, the love and respect and desire to push you to be the best you can be, those parts are very much there. And that is why there is no greater friend than Jesus, and no one we should strive to be more like.
When you think of a best friend, what comes to your mind? There are lots of iconic friendships and partnerships from history- Shaggy and Scooby-Doo, Phineas and Ferb, Han Solo and Chewbacca, and the list goes on and on. For me, one of my best friends has always been my dad. There’s a lot me and my dad have in common, mostly from me always looking up to him and wanting to be like him. My dad has always been someone who has had a great influence on me. I can talk to him about anything. He gets my jokes. He is interested in my hobbies, many of which he passed on to me. I love spending time with my dad because he is someone I want to be like, and your best friend probably holds that same distinction.
Think about and zero in on that person. You want to be like them. You like the influence they have on you. And depending on the level of the relationship, you may even go to them for advice. One thing I love about my dad and a lot of my other close friends is they don’t just tell me when I’m doing good things, they also help me know what I need to change. In our close relationships, it is not about me and my friends making each other happy, it’s about helping each other be better. I know my friends love me and that’s why they try and help me be better, and because I like their influence, I listen.
In John 15, Jesus offers some words about friendship, telling His apostles that no greater love can be demonstrated than by laying down your life for your friends, and that Jesus’ friends are those who follow His commandments. Is that not amazing?! Jesus, the Son of God, has extended His hand of friendship to you by laying down His life for you. It can be hard to picture Jesus as our friend. Afterall, it isn’t like you get to hang out with Him or play with Him on Xbox Live. But the most integral parts of friendship, the love and respect and desire to push you to be the best you can be, those parts are very much there. And that is why there is no greater friend than Jesus, and no one we should strive to be more like.
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