19/07/09

Is Jesus your friend? He is not mine

John 15:14 - Ye are my friends (Philos), if ye do whatsoever I command you.


From the start when my daughter was not even 2years old, I have been teaching her that I am not her friend. When anybody asks her about me being her friend, she is taught that I am more than a friend, I am her father.

After I have been taught by the Lord what friendship means, I do not use the word either with people related by family blood or by the Blood of Christ. We can be good companions but it is not good of us to degrade our relationship by calling a person a friend.

Most refer to today's scripture and degrade Jesus' relationship with us by calling Him a friend. If you read the scripture the word used for friend is the Greek word 'Philos' which has more than one meaning the other term it is used from is 'Associate'. If you read few of the scriptures ahead and after, Jesus is talking about business - His Father's business, therefore Jesus is using the term 'associate'.

We are all working in God's Kingdom and we work under Jesus Christ. He is the Head - the Chief Associate and we, who have dedicated ourselves to working in His Kingdom, are His sub-associates. The business is in fruits - fruit of the Holy Spirit, to develop it ourselves and to help others to develop it. If you understand corporate law you will really understand and rejoice in being an associate of Jesus. The investment is His, the risk factor is His, the resource is His, we work under His Name and most of the things are His, we need to just stick and work in His Company and take a share of the profit.

Jesus is our Brother and our Associate and we should rejoice in Him for making us one.


[ Prayer Starter ]

Lord Jesus, forgive us for in our ignorance we called You a friend, when You made us your brother and associate. Help us to understand the depth of our relationship with You and to cherish in being an brother and associate in You. Help us to work better in your Kingdom and reap more as your associate...

This we ask in your mighty Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]

John 15:12-17
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his associates.
14 Ye are my associate, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you associates; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)