Our Friend
““This is my Friend.” — CAnr. v.
ONLY think of this!) Think of the Lord Jesus Himself, whom all the angels of God worship (Heb. 1. ), the King of kings, full of glory and beauty, letting you look up to Him and say, “Thisismy Friend!” May you really? Yes, really; for Jesus says, ‘‘T have called you friends” (John xv. ye It is so nice to have a real friend. Don’t you feel as if you would do anything for your particular friend? Don’t you look forward to being together and telling each other everything? Does it not make it a delightful day if your friend is coming? But “what a Friend we have in Jesus!” A much “more real friend than any one else! He loves you a great deal more, and thinks a great deal more about you, than the very dearest friend you ever had. He does not come just now and then, and leave you alone between whiles; but He is like a friend that always stays with us, so that any minute we may talk to Him and be happy with Him. Never any “good-bye” in this wonderful friendship! (Heb. xiii. D.
He is such a patient Friend. How very often we grieve Him, and do or say something that we know He would not like, and forget that He is there all the time! (Matt. XXVIiL. ). And still He is our Friend, and forgives us, and goes on loving us.
He is such a kind Friend. Has He not been kind to you, now? Just think what you would do if He had not given you all the little mercies as well as the great ones around you! (Isa. lxiii, ). See how He thinks of everything for you, so that they are new every morning (Lam. iii.;
He is such a wise Friend.. He never makes ‘a mistake in anything He sends you or bids you do; even if you do not see at all why He lets something come that you do not like, you may be quite sure He is quite right.
He must be the most loving Friend, because He died for you. He says, “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John xv.
). Zhatis what He did for you. Can you see it? Look at your Saviour crucified upon the cross, crowned with the sharp thorns, bleeding and’ suffering unto death for you. Is it not wonderful that you may say, “This is my Friend?”