#85 THE BELIEVER’S BEST FRIEND 9-4-26
There is no friend like Jesus. Human friends may love us deeply, but Jesus loves us with an everlasting love. Friends may sometimes misunderstand us, disappoint us, or be unable to stay beside us, but Jesus is the friend who never leaves, never forsakes, and never turns His back upon those who belong to Him. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
JESUS CAME IN THE FLESH
The Son of God did not remain distant from our humanity. He came into this world and became flesh. He walked our roads, felt our sorrows, experienced hunger and weariness, and was touched with the feelings of our weaknesses. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) Jesus came near so that we could know the heart of God. He did not merely send a message of love. He came Himself.
JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS
Our greatest problem was not our circumstances. It was our sin. Jesus went to the cross and bore what we could never bear for ourselves. He died for our sins according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3). The cross proves that His love is not sentimental. It is sacrificial. He did not love us because we were worthy. He loved us when we were lost, and He gave Himself to bring us home.
JESUS ASCENDED ON HIGH.
The story did not end at the empty tomb. Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. He is exalted at the right hand of God. (Acts 1:9, Hebrews 1:3) Our Savior is not a dead hero whose memory we preserve. He is the living Christ who reigns. The One who came down to us has been exalted above all, and our faith rests in a living Lord.
JESUS LIVES WITHIN US.
Perhaps one of the most wonderful truths of Christianity is that Christ does not merely save us and then leave us to walk alone. He comes to live within His people. Paul said, “Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20) Christ in us is “the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) His presence gives us strength when we are weak, peace when we are troubled, wisdom when we are uncertain, and love when our own hearts are running empty.
That is why Jesus is the believer’s best friend. He came to us in the flesh. He died for us at the cross. He ascended for us to the Father. And He lives within us by faith. He is not merely a Savior we read about in the pages of Scripture. He is the Savior we know, trust, follow, love, and walk with every day.
What a friend we have in Jesus. He knows us completely and loves us completely. He knows our failures, our fears, our weaknesses, and our wounds, yet He does not abandon us. The greatest friendship you will ever know is friendship with Christ. Walk with Him today. Talk with Him in prayer. Trust Him in difficulty. Follow Him in obedience. And remember that the One who gave Himself for you will never stop loving you.
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Lord Jesus, thank You for coming in the flesh, dying for our sins, rising from the grave, and ascending on high. Thank You that You have not left us alone, but that You live within Your people and are our hope of glory. Help us to know You more deeply, trust You more completely, and walk with You more faithfully. May our lives reflect the love of our best Friend. Amen.
BDD
