Friends // John 15:15
by Mark Jordan , Spiritual Advisor
John 15:15 (NLT) | I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.
Ethan was a Pokémon maniac when he was young. He learned what each one was, its evolutions, and the different powers they could exhibit. I knew about Pikachu and some of the other more recognizable ones, but I never put in the energy to really get to know about the cartoons, movies, cards, video games, and toys. I was convicted once while overhearing a conversation between Tiffany and my brother's wife, Jennifer. They were discussing how hard it was to keep up with all the different Pokémon characters, but they were devoted to do so because they were devoted to their sons who lived and breathed it. Wow! That translates into our relationship with God because as we explored yesterday, He cares about the things we care about. God is mindful of you and me, so He focuses on the things we focus on, too. This speaks deeply into the power of relationship; especially when we realize there are others in the world like us. Consider this awesome quote from C.S. Lewis, "Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’” Now, think about our verse for the day where Jesus said he calls us friends. This shows us that Jesus cares about the things we care about; confides in us the ways of God; and channels those things into ways we can help others know about His saving love and grace. With whom can you connect today in a friendly way based on the things you care about? What can you confide in them about the Good News of God? How can you channel that energy to helping them find salvation? Do those things and do them on purpose, so even the little things you can't believe someone would care about are illuminated with the never-ending radiant love of the Lord! Jesus calls us friends and wants us to do our part of introduce our earthly friends to Him for a heavenly cause. Will you do that today?