There is an age-old hymn, “What a friend we have in Jesus.” The old hymn tells us, “All our sins and griefs to bear.”
But what if we are a child, what if we have ‘received and believed’ in the past, yet like Christian in the ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ we discover we’ve gone off the path because we ‘believed it too hard’, and are now covered not with the grace of God, but it seems with only a lot of sin and a lot of grief. Can we still find a ‘friend in Jesus?’
The Lord, ‘searches us and knows us’. He ‘knows our sitting down and rising up’. He ‘is acquainted with all my ways.’ ‘There is not a word on my tongue, but behold, He knows it altogether’ (Ps. 139) – and HE STILL LOVES…”Selah”, (pause and think soberly of this). He, God the Father, the Only One God who sent His only Son, He loves me, He loves you, He loves every child born in this world…God loves, because God IS love. Even failures? Even after a great and terrible fall? Where do you think the word ‘l-o-n-g-s-u-f-f-e-r-i-n-g’ comes from?! “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and lovingkindness,…” (Ps. 145:8).
We can’t comprehend the grace of God! Human beings can’t comprehend the depth of this love and patience. We think God is like man.
But the word reminds us: “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Is. 55:9).
“Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly …”( ps. 138:6). When a child of God goes off the path, there is conviction, there is sorrow and ‘lowliness’, because the Holy Spirit speaks. A simple ‘turning’ direction is all we need! Simple, but not easy BUT: What a friend we have in Jesus.
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17.This proverb is true always, when thinking about Jesus.
“I no longer call you servants, I have called you friends…” (John 15:15).
To think that these are His very words to you and me who have made a decision to ask Him into our lives, that He is a friend that loves at all times, that He calls us friends, even after searching us and knowing us because ‘God is light and in Him is no darkness at all’,(1John 1:5).
“Understand this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, (a ready listener,) slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry. For man’s anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires].” (James 1:19).
“DRAW NEAR TO GOD and HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU!” (James 5:8). How longsuffering is that?!!
Jesus forgives sin! When we ask forgiveness, He gives forgiveness.
The only failure we need to fear is failure to heed the voice of God. There is no failure when we choose to ,”cleanse our hands,, you sinners; and purify your hearts , you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom…”(James 4:9).
“This is too hard” you might say! “This is why I can’t follow Jesus.” You might argue. You might be tempted to just give up!
That would be the failure then…
We must remember to think on what’s true- What a friend we have in Jesus, after He has searched me and knows my heart, and He can easily see all the wicked ways and thoughts I have, that He doesn’t walk off the scene, that He doesn’t say, “I give up on this one!” But instead, just like what He did to Peter, He literally ‘looked me in the eyes’ so to speak, as I was ‘fighting the oppressive and dark thoughts inside,’and ‘seeking His face’ in the midst of this hurricane of a storm, and making effort to cry out “Help Lord!”
Gods word encourages: ” Humble yourselves in the sight of the LoRD, and He will lift you you.”(James 4:10). “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:12)
“Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?” The old hymn has us saying aloud: “We should never be discouraged, Take it to the Lord in prayer:
Can we find a friend so faithful? Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness,…”
(The hymn, What a Friend We Have in Jesus).
It is true, ‘He knows our every weakness…’ Peter stood outside and warmed himself at the enemies fire while Jesus was being ‘tried in a ‘fiery furnace’ of sorts.Peter, a disciple that had only moments before spoke these very words, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”(Matthew 26:33).
What a friend we have in Jesus, He knows our thoughts, He knows our paths, even before we walk in them. His very words to Peter after that statement of faith and courage, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” (Matthew 26:34).
And it is recorded so we can always take a look at Peter’s words, even though we know all that Jesus said came to pass, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples. (Matthew 26:35).
And Jesus knew what was comin’!
Jesus is that perfect friend,
“A friend loves at all times…”(Prov. 17:17).What a friend we have…what a friend I have…He touched me today, He didn’t walk off, He is here. He loves me, even though He knows all that is in my heart. He is gracious, He is compassionate, He is slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He forgives iniquity and sin – because that is what His name IS. He is God and God is love. And He spoke directly to me,
oh yes, even though the words originally were for Peter, they were spoken directly to me, today. There is no doubt in my mind what Jesus wants me to do. He has made it crystal clear: “Toni, do you love Me.”
I believe I am still sweaty with all the wrestling I have been doing with Him, but I can answer, “yes, Lord, You know I ‘love’ You, as best as a ‘cracked clay pot’ can.“Feed my Lambs.” “Do you love Me, Toni?”... “Feed my sheep.”
and a third time He asks, “do you love Me?” Oh Jesus, You know I do.
“Feed My sheep.” (John 21: 15-17).
He loves me, He loves you, He loves everyone – How? Because He is God and we are not! “Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior,still our refuge, Take it to the Lord in prayer: Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer; In His arms He’ll take and shield thee; Thou wilt find a solace there.”(hymn, What a Friend we have in Jesus).Proverbs 17:17, “A Friend loves at all times”.
John 21:15-17, “Feed My Sheep.”
My response: “Oh Lord, You have searched me and known me…fill me with all you are. Thank you for Your merciful kindness towards me. Thank you that I have a friend in YOU! Help me never get discouraged in following YOU! In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
P.S. (and furthermore…) I must write as I think of my dear friend Jenny, who couldn’t serve a meal, or prepare a feast for anyone for that matter, let alone her own children because of the paralysis, however, I witnessed and I heard her daughters own words at her funeral, that this woman ‘fed God’s sheep’ with an overflowing amount of Love that God filled her with.Jenny fought the good fight and didn’t give up, never! And God was with her always, and she is with Him now!
Jesus loves at all times, even when it doesn’t look like He does. But ‘today’ is all He wants me to be thinking about, so ‘today’ He asks, “Do you love Me?” and I want to answer as my dear broken friend so faithfully answered, “Yes, Lord, You know my every thought.”
“Feed my sheep.”Is what I hear today.
Well, Lord, everyone around here really loves fruit, so will will you repair the many ‘cracks in my clay pot’ with Your Spirit, and fill me to the full of Your love, like you did Jenny, so I can serve up some love,and joy, and peace, and patience, and kindness and goodness and faithfulness and gentleness and Lord, please don’t forget, can You give me an added measure of Self-control!