Cherish Friendship Series

So I want you to meet my Friend. What’s true for me is true for you. I’d like nothing more than for you to be able to say this morning, with conviction, JESUS SHARES HIS HEART WITH ME. He wants to so desperately that He’s given himself and his Spirit to you - with only your good in mind. He wants to be your best friend.

I’m aware of Jesus’ desire for friendship also because of his INITIATIVE. Jesus sought out a friendship with me before I ever sought one with him. Verse 16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you...” It’s not like I was in my mother’s womb wondering where I could find Jesus; yet He was already seeking me out. Through family, church, and friends He came to me. At my Baptism, although I was not aware of it, Jesus promised to guide and direct my life because He had adopted me. He was determined to have me as His friend. Imagine - knowing everything there is to know about me, still He wanted me as His friend. It’s not the quality of my life that makes our friendship - but the quality of His love. I don’t have to hide my flaws and my failures. Jesus has chosen me as I am and loves me enough to grow me into His likeness. It’s like the couple who was seeing a marriage counselor. Eventually the husband blurted out, “You know what it is? All these years I’ve been scared to death that someday she’ll break through my shell and realize what an idiot I really am!” Hey - Jesus already knows what an idiot Curry is - and still He loves me! So now I have a reason for living - to be His friend. Everything I do can revolve around that.

So I want you to meet my Friend. What’s true for me is true for you. Jesus knows you as you are, understands where you’ve been, and accepts who you’ve become and wants to grow you into His likeness. He loves you to death – His and yours! He wants you to be his friend. I pray that today you can say, JESUS GIVES ME A REASON FOR LIVING. Be his friend.

Jesus’ desire for friendship is seen as well in his INVITATION. He wants me to ask him for anything. Verse 16: “Whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” The door to his wealth and riches is wide open. All I have to do is walk through. I admit I do not fully understand Jesus’ promise, but I’ve had a lifetime of walking through the door and receiving from Him that proves it’s worth asking him! Still I’m barely beginning to comprehend what this means. I just know I do not need to worry about whether or not what I’m thinking or wanting is right to pray about. If I’m thinking it, pray it! Whatever it is, I can bring it to Jesus. Everything can be opened up to him.

Ed Cunningham once said, “Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer.” For years one of the most powerful men in Washington D.C. was Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn. He served with eight presidents. One day he heard that the teenage daughter of a newsman had died. Early the next morning there was a knock on the reporter’s door, and when he opened it he found Speaker Rayburn standing there. “I just came to see what I could do to help,” he said, the grieving father replied, “I don’t think there’s anything you can do, Mr. Speaker. We’re making all the arrangements.” “Well, have you all had your coffee this morning?” Rayburn asked. When the reporter said they had not, the Speaker quickly said that he would make coffee for them. While he was doing so the reporter said, “Mr. Speaker, I thought that you were supposed to be having breakfast at the White House this morning.” “Well, I was,” said Rayburn, “but I have called the president and told him I had a friend who was in trouble, and I couldn’t come.” (iii)