What A Friend We Have In Jesus Bible Verse

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

You were created to be in a relationship with God. God does not only want us to be aware of him; he wants us to be acquainted with him — and to know and enjoy his fellowship. When it comes to entering into an everlasting relationship with Christ, Jonathan Edwards says, “Let it be first love to enter into an everlasting friendship with Christ that will never be severed” (WJE Online Vol. 44). Our faith in Jesus as our Savior, our submission to him as our King, and our appreciation for him as our Treasure are all commanded by the gospel.

Do you, on the other hand, see him in this light?

He Gladly Calls Us Friends

On the night before his death, Jesus assembled his disciples for one final time to prepare them for the events of the following day and beyond. “I no longer refer to you as servants, since a servant has no understanding of what his master is doing; instead, I refer to you as friends, for everything I have heard from my Father I have made known to you,” Jesus stated in the midst of this precious evening (John 15:15). The honor of being referred to as Jesus’ servant is a tremendous honor. Jesus, on the other hand, bestows a higher honor.

  1. He refers to us as buddies.
  2. First and foremost, he demonstrated transparency in his heart.
  3. John 14:26, John 16:12–15, and other passages indicate that Jesus would send his Spirit to guarantee that these statements were heard by all future disciples.
  4. “There is no greater love than this,” he said, “that someone would lay down his life for his companions” (John 15:13).
  5. Friendship is at the very heart of Christ’s teachings, and it is at the very heart of the gospel message.

He Is Not Our KingorOur Friend

However, for some, friendship with Jesus appears to be a detraction from his majesty. “Jesus is not our buddy; he is our King,” is a concept I’ve heard repeated many times. The good news is that we don’t have to choose between the two, since both are true: Jesus is our exalted monarch, yet he is also our closest friend. As a result, God’s glory is not diminished; rather, his glory is magnified — for it demonstrates the immense riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:6–7). Only grace can explain the sovereign King’s invitation to sinners to become his friends.

  • No, not at all, since even though he refers to us as friends, he retains his status as our King.
  • But he was right (John 15:14).
  • And our obedience does not earn, but rather establishes, our relationship with him, rather than the other way around.
  • Jonathan’s relationship with David in 1 Samuel serves as a strong example of what we are talking about here.
  • But their narrative precisely shows how we might be friends with the Christ, the messianic King.
  • David then challenged Jonathan to demonstrate his loyalty, to which he replied by declaring that he would “do whatever” that David requested (1 Samuel 20:4).
  • We must avoid the following two blunders: One blunder is casually referring to Jesus as a “chum,” “buddy,” or “fellow,” as if friendship were something insignificant.

On the other side, we might place so much emphasis on Jesus’ kingship that we overlook his role as a friend. We might overemphasize his power to the point that we don’t appreciate his devotion. The only difference is that Jesus offers himself to us as both cosmic king and our closest friend.

Cultivating Friendship with Christ

What steps should we take to develop this relationship? First and foremost, let us broaden our perception of him. Consider how he is the best friend to the most heinous of sinners. He gets closer to us through our pain, and he remains dedicated even when we make mistakes. In the end, he welcomes us all the way in and loves us unconditionally. He doesn’t merely defend our actions and then shove us away; he allows us into his most intimate thoughts and feelings. He understands us better than we understand ourselves, and he loves us more passionately than anybody else could ever love us.

  1. According to Jonathan Edwards, “Whatever there is, or can be, that is desirable to be in a friend, is in Christ, and that to the utmost degree that can be desired” (whatever is or may be desirable in a friend) (Works, 19:588).
  2. Conversation is essential to the health of any relationship.
  3. And then we pray – we express our gratitude to God, confess our faults to him, and share our sorrows with him in prayer.
  4. Finally, let us demonstrate our friendship by following through on our promises.
  5. Isn’t the very fact of his presence one of the most powerful deterrents against sin?

In response to Jesus’ proclamation that “You are my friends if you do what I instruct you,” we should react as Jonathan did: “Whatever You say, I will do for you.” The Lord Jesus Christ selected us as friends, he died for us as friends, he prompted us to put our confidence in him as our friend, and he will continue to be our friend for all of eternity.

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT JESUS AS A FRIEND

Sorted in alphabetical order by book title John 15:15-From now on, I will not refer to you as servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing; rather, I will refer to you as friends, for all that I have learned about my Father I have made known to you. In John 15:13, Jesus says, “There is no greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus says in John 15:14 that if you do anything I instruct you, then you are my friends. As a result, the verse was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was ascribed unto him as righteousness: and he was referred to as the Friend of God.

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for difficulty.” A friend is someone who loves at all times.

Revelation 3:20-Behold, I stand at the door and knock; and if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter in to him and eat with him, and he with me; for I have come to eat with you.

As a result, if any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, if there is any hope for the future, Philippians 2:1-30 (Read More.) The apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:8 that God commends his love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

James 4:8 says that if you draw near to God, he will come near to you.

Topics and verses are produced automatically based on user queries.

Scripture references and categories courtesy of Open Bible.info, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.Related Bible Dictionary Terms: If you want to learn more about Jesus as a friend, you may look up more information in the King James Version (KJV).

Popular Topics for Bible Verses

Text Information
First Line: What a friend we have in Jesus
Title: What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Author: Joseph M. Scriven(1855)
Meter: 87 87 D
Language: English
Publication Date: 1987
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:17;1 Thessalonians 5;Ephesians 6:18;Ephesians 6;Matthew 11:28-30;Philippians 4:9
Topic: BrevityFrailty of Life; TemptationTrial; Songs for Children: Hymns(5 more.)
Tune Information
Name: BEACH SPRING
Harmonizer: A. Royce Eckhardt(1972)
Meter: 87 87 D
Key: F Major
Copyright: Harmonization © 1972, Covenant Press

Information about the text: Scripture References:st. 1 = John 15:15, Eph.6:18, 1 Thess.5:17st. 1 = John 15:15, Eph.6:18, 1 Thess.5:17st. 1 = John 15:15, Eph.6:18, 1 Thess.5:17st. 1 = John 15:15, Eph.6:18, 1 Thess.5:17st. 1 = John 15:15 a. 3 = Matthew 11:28-30 This book was written at Port Hope, Ontario, in 1855 by Irish immigrant Joseph M. Scriven (b. Seapatrick, County Down, Ireland, 1819; d. Bewdley, Rice Lake, ON, Canada, 1886), who was born in Ireland and immigrated to Canada. Because his life had been plagued with loss and suffering, Scriven found himself in need of the comfort of the Lord, as expressed in his well-known song.

  1. However, due to his failing health, he was compelled to abandon that objective.
  2. Later that year, he relocated to Ontario, where he worked as a schoolteacher in Woodstock and Brantford, respectively.
  3. Following this tragedy, Scriven was unable to maintain a consistent source of income, and he was forced to live in the houses of others.
  4. He was a member of the Plymouth Brethren, and he attempted to live as literally as possible according to the Sermon on the Mount, giving and sharing whatever he had, as well as performing menial jobs for the destitute and the physically challenged.
  5. Scriven composed “What a Friend” to comfort his ill mother in Dublin, presumably shortly after the death of his second girlfriend, who had died in a car accident.
  6. (1886).
  7. Sankey (PHH 73) includes the text, which was put to a well-known song by Charles C.

In Scriven’s essay, it is evident that he is writing about his own life experiences.

A popular scripture in many Christian groups because of its straightforward exhortation to “pray without stopping,” the text is widely read and appreciated.

(1869).

– Psalter Hymnal Handbook (in German) Information on the tune: Several hymnals in the United Kingdom have placed Scriven’s words to a variety of melodies, including BLAENWERN (416), which is a wonderful alternate choice.

Converse, the choice of BEACH SPRING is a refreshing alternative.

A setting for Joseph Hart’s “Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Wretched” was originally published in The Sacred Harp(1844), where it was first known as BEACH SPRING (534).

The composer was identified as Benjamin F.

Spartanburg, SC, 1800; d.

The Beach Spring Baptist Church in Harris County, Georgia, where White grew up, is the inspiration for the song’s title.

At some point, White rose to prominence as a popular singing-school instructor and as editor of the monthly Harris County newspaper.

The harmonization was written by A.

Scottsbluff, Nebraska, 1937), and it was originally published in The Covenant Hymnal in 1989.

As well as teaching, he has served as music editor for the Covenant Hymnal and as a professor at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago (1973). – Psalter Hymnal Handbook (in German)

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Information about the text consists of: The following scriptures are used as references: 1st = John 15:15; 2nd = Eph. 6:18; 3rd = Thess. 5:17; 4th = 1 Thess. 5:18; 5th = John 15:15; 4th = 1 Thess. 5:17; 5th = 1 Thess. 5:17; 5th = 1 Thess 5:17; 5th = 1 Thess. 5:17; 5th = John 15: a) Matt. 11:28-30 b) This book was written at Port Hope, Ontario, in 1855 by Irish immigrant Joseph M. Scriven (b. Seapatrick, County Down, Ireland, 1819; d. Bewdley, Rice Lake, Ontario, Canada, 1886), who was born in Ireland and immigrated to Canada.

  • After receiving his education at Trinity Institution in Dublin, Ireland, he decided to enroll in a military college to prepare for a military career.
  • In 1844, he was dealt a second blow when his girlfriend drowned on the eve of their wedding, a tragedy that he never recovered from.
  • Following a brief illness, his new bride-to-be passed away, putting an end to his marriage preparations once more.
  • His peculiarities and work with the impoverished were also viewed with suspicion by his neighbors, who did not appreciate his idiosyncrasies or efforts on their behalf.
  • It was unclear if Scriven’s drowning in Rice Lake was the result of suicide or an accident because he suffered from despair.
  • A neighbor approached Scriven and inquired about his authoring of the book, to which he responded humbly, “The Lord and I wrote it between us,” according to Scriven.
  • (1886).

Converse’s famous music was adapted to the text by Ira D.

There is little doubt that Scriven’s prose is inspired by his personal life experiences.

The scripture is well-liked in many Christian groups because of its straightforward invitation to “pray without ceasing.” ‘Hymns and Other Verses’, a collection of his poetry, was released in 1922.

Use in the liturgy: As a hymn of encouragement to pray in the midst of the “sins and griefs” that we experience on our life’s journey.

In contrast to the text’s longstanding link in North America with the melody CONVERSE, which was composed in 1868 for the song “What a Friend” by Charles C.

However, despite the fact that such combination appears in prior versions of the Psalter Hymnal, the revising committee opted to use the word BEACH SPRING for this line.

See also:  Who Is Jesus Sermon

Note values virtually identical to those in the Psalter Hymnal are used in The Sacred Harp (1844), although the song is barred in duple rather than triple meter.

White (b.

Atlanta, GA, 1879) was a coeditor of The Sacred Harp(1844) and coeditor of The Sacred Harp(1844).

He was raised in a household of fourteen children and was primarily self-taught in his field of study, mathematics.

BEACH SPRING is a powerful, pentatonic melody that has been cast into a rounded bar pattern for ease of performance (AABA).

Royce Eckhardt (born 1937 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska), and it was originally published in The Covenant Hymnal.

He has also taught at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago and served as the music editor for the Covenant Hymnal, among other positions (1973). Handbook for the Psalter Hymnal

Bible Verses about Jesus Being Our Friend, Your Friend, Our Best Friend – Jesus is my friend Bible Verses & Scripture Quotes, Jesus is our best friend

Verses from the Bible about Jesus Being Our Friend, Your Friend, and Our Best Friend – Jesus is my best friend. Jesus is our best buddy, according to the Bible and Scripture quotes. A fantastic collection of Bible verses, Scriptures, and quotes Passages about Jesus being our friend, Jesus being your friend, and Jesus being our best friend are among the most frequently encountered. Jesus is my friend; but Jesus is much more than a friend; Jesus is the most wonderful friend you and I could ever hope to find.

  • Jesus is our friend, comforter, debt-payer, and savior, and he is the one who cleanses us of our sins.
  • Jesus is our friend and intercessor, our friend throughout all of life, and our joy.
  • He is our buddy, mediator, and king all at the same time!
  • Hopefully, we can all say with confidence that Jesus is my friend, Jesus is your friend, and Jesus is our best friend!
  • Please continue reading and be blessed by the lyrics to What a Friend we have in Jesus.
  • Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends, according to John 15:13, ESV.
  • James 2:23 (New International Version) “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” according to the Scriptures, and he was referred to as “God’s friend” as a result.

After that, Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun would not leave his tent until the end of the day.

1 John 2:1 (New Living Translation) My dear children, I am writing this to you in order for you to avoid committing sin.

He is Jesus Christ, the only one who is truly righteous in the eyes of the law.

11:28 (ESVC), ESVC I will grant you rest if you come to me, all you who toil and are burdened with work.

friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Not as the world gives do I give to you.

Romans 5:8, ESV…God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, Romans 8:34, ESV Who is to condemn?

Hebrews 4:15, ESV For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Revelation 3:20, ESVBehold, I stand at the door and knock.

Getting to know God See Also: 7 Gifts we can give Jesus, Gifts we can give to God Bible Verses about God’s Sacrifice, Jesus’ Sacrifice for us Bible Verses Quotes for Christmas Cards What a Friend we have in Jesus – By Joseph M.

What a privilege to carryEverything to God in prayer!

Have we faced difficulties and temptations?

We should never be discouraged—Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Jesus knows our every weakness;Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Precious Savior, still our refuge—Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promisedThou wilt all our burdens bear;May we ever, Lord, be bringingAll to Thee in earnest prayer.

Amen.

Have a wonderfully blessed, stress-free, productive, andjoyfulday!

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KJV – King James Version – Bible Verse List : Jesus is Our Friend

Verses Compiled by:Last Updated:August 20, 2016″A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24, KJV”Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John 15:13-15, KJV”Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20, KJV”And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” Luke 12:4-5, KJV”But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.” 3 John 1:14, KJVIn contrast, consider this:”Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4, KJV

15 Bible Verses about Friends and Friendship

We live in a digital world where we have “friends” and “following” that we have never met in real life. However, the Bible is replete with imagery of relationships that go above the level of superficial sentimentality. We should strive to build a community that is passionately devoted while also being visibly nice. When it comes to friendship and the actions that build true rapport and camaraderie, the Bible has a lot to say about it. Here are 15 scriptures that may be used to help us all become better friends with one another.

1. Withholding kindness from a friend (Job 6:14)

Anyone who refuses to be kind to a friend is denying themselves the dread of the Almighty. The majority of the Book of Job is comprised of conversation. Job’s buddies are attempting to assist him in comprehending the catastrophes that have befallen him. Job’s companion Eliphaz says that Job is suffering as a result of his own stupidity at one point in the story. Job reminds Eliphaz that he is the one who is acting foolishly in this scene. Because if you’re withholding things from your friends such as love, comfort, and compassion, it indicates that you have no fear of God.

2. How good and pleasant to dwell in unity (Psalm 133)

What a blessing and pleasure it is to see God’s people living together in harmony! When Aaron’s beard is pouring down his neck, it seems like priceless oil has been spilled on his head, trickling down the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It’s as if the dew of Hermonwere raining on Mount Zion at this moment in time. Because it is there that the Lord bestows his blessing, which includes eternal life. Psalm 133 focuses on a number of different concepts at the same time.

From a different perspective, it’s a celebration of the universal beauty of oneness.

This might be particularly difficult for people who are close to one another at certain times.

If we wish to live in harmony, we must put in the necessary effort.

3. Gossip separates close friends (Proverbs 16:28)

A wicked individual instigates conflict, while a gossiping friend drives a wedge between intimate pals. It’s a little startling how frequently the subject of gossip comes up in the Bible. This makes sense, though, when you consider how hazardous (and ubiquitous) the situation is. Gossip is destructive to people’s reputations—and to their relationships. There’s something wrong with someone who gets a kick out of inciting controversy. It feels good to be able to share hidden knowledge. However, in the long run, it erodes confidence.

Stay away from them.

4. Love covers offense (Proverbs 17:9)

Whoever would cultivate love would be able to cover up a crime, but whoever would repeat the offense would be able to divide close friends. No one is without flaws. Every intimate relationship experiences problems and hardships at some point. Inevitably, the individuals who are closest to you will fail to meet your expectations. And you’ll be the one to let them down. However, how we respond to such sins will determine the trajectory of our friendships. According to the writer of Proverbs, love may cover over a multitude of sins.

When you cover anything, you can no longer see what you were covering.

Love has the ability to disguise the faults and mishaps that we are tempted to let to derail our relationships. However, the author reminds us that by confiding in others about the transgressions we’ve experienced, we face the genuine risk of causing actual damage to our connection with one another.

5. A friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17)

A friend is there for you at all times, and a brother is born to help you through difficult times. If you’ve ever had a buddy who is only available when the mood strikes, you understand how frustrating it can be. It’s one thing to have pals who are light-hearted and carefree. While going through a hardship, though, it might be really upsetting to discover that such individuals are nowhere to be located. A good buddy will always be there for you. They make room in their schedules for you. Not only are they there to share a joke with you, but they are also there to weep with you when you need someone.

They’re worth their weight in gold, to be honest with you.

6. Unreliable friends lead you to ruin (Proverbs 18:24)

Having untrustworthy friends may lead to financial disaster, yet there is one friend that remains closer than a brother. It is important to note that this passage does not state that being unreliable would result in your downfall. That should be self-evident. However, even if you are doing everything correctly, surrounding yourself with reckless individuals will ultimately come back to bite you. You simply cannot accomplish everything on your own; thus, you must surround yourself with individuals who are trustworthy and dependable.

No matter what, they’re always there and ready to help.

7. Wounds from a friend can be trusted (Proverbs 27:6)

Wounds from a friend may be trusted, but kisses from an adversary are multiplied. This is a difficult lesson to grasp. We don’t appreciate receiving negative feedback from anyone. And we frequently expect our friends to stand by us and support us no matter what. But, when we stop and think about it, we realize that’s not the best course of action. Our friends are the ones who are most familiar with us, and we really need them to point out our blind spots. The author of Proverbs refers to these facts as “wounds,” and he encourages us to put our faith in them.

The author of Proverbs would caution us all not to be fooled by flattery and to enjoy being questioned by those who are closest to us in their opinions.

8. Friendships perfume (Proverbs 27:9)

Joy is brought to the heart by perfume and incense, and the pleasantness of a friend comes from their honest advise. When you attended an antique dinner party in the ancient Near East, the host would give perfumed oils and incense to make the atmosphere more festive. These extravagances highlighted the generosity of the host as well as the importance of your contribution. The advise of friends might bring a similar type of experience as well.

When someone cares about us enough to provide real advice, it indicates their goodwill and our importance to him or her. One of the most major advantages of having close friends is that we have someone who can provide us with excellent advice.

9. Two are better than one (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12)

Two are preferable to one because they receive a greater reward for their efforts: if one of them falls down, the other may assist the other in getting back up. But, pity the fool who falls and has no one to assist him or her back up. Additionally, if two people lie down together, they will stay warm. But how can one remain warm on their own? Despite the fact that one is outmatched, two can protect themselves. Breaking a three-stranded cable takes a lot of effort. We’re used to hearing this verse in the context of a relationship.

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The author expresses concern about being isolated.

Our friends and family members are gifts from God, given to us to make our lives more comfortable and joyful by bringing us together.

10. Love one another as I have loved you (John 15:12–15)

If two people work together, the results are more fruitful: If one of them falls down, the other can assist the other in getting back up. Those who fall and are unable to get back up should be pitied. They will also stay warm if they both lie down together. But how does one remain warm when you’re on your own for hours? Two people can protect themselves even if one is outmatched. A three-stranded cable is not easily snapped. It takes time and effort. This scripture is frequently used in the context of marriage.

It is recommended that you avoid being alone, according to the writer.

It is God’s gift to us to have friends and family who help to make our lives easier and more enjoyable.

11. The dangers of bad company (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Do not be fooled by the saying, “Bad company corrupts a good reputation.” Any parent will tell you that their children’s behavior varies depending on the other children with whom they are interacting. No matter whether they’re conscious of it or not, their friends’ attitudes and ideas have an impact on them—whether for the better or worse. Parents, on the other hand, are frequently unaware that this occurs in their own households. In order to go forward on a positive trajectory, we must be deliberate about who we choose to surround ourselves with in order to achieve that goal.

However, even if this is not the case, it will have an influence.

12. In humility, value others above yourself (Philippians 2:1–4)

Consequently, if you have received any encouragement from being united with Christ, any comfort from his love, any common sharing in the Spirit of tenderness and compassion, then please contribute to my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, and being one in spirit and of one mind with me and the rest of the church. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit in your own self-importance. Instead, act with humility and place others before yourself, not looking out for your own interests, but each of you looking out for the interests of the others.

He goes on to explain how Jesus chose to put His divinity aside and serve us as a servant on our behalf.

We should make the conscious decision on a daily basis to live as servants to those closest to us, putting our own rights and expectations aside. This is the task of patterning our lives after the example set by Jesus, as we have seen.

13. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:12–14)

You must thus dress yourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and perseverance as God’s chosen people, holy and greatly loved by the Almighty. If any of you harbors a grudge against someone, be patient with one another and forgive one another as soon as possible. Allow yourself to be forgiven as the Lord has forgiven you. And then, on top of all of these characteristics, spread love, which brings them all together in perfect harmony. Our proximity to others increases the likelihood that we may be discouraged, disappointed, and demoralized by others who are in our immediate vicinity.

  1. The people we care about will disappoint us—and we will disappoint them as well.
  2. Our connections would crumble if we didn’t have them.
  3. We are to be forgiving to one another.
  4. In the same way that Jesus has been forgiving toward us.

14. Do not slander one another (James 4:11)

Please, brothers and sisters, refrain from slandering one another. Those who speak negatively about their brothers and sisters, as well as those who criticize them, are speaking against and judging the law. When you judge the law, you are not enforcing it; rather, you are sitting in judgment on its application. Have you ever noticed how simple it is for friends to start a rumor about someone who isn’t physically present? The word “slander” in this context refers to the act of accusing or speaking out against someone.

It should be our first instinct to speak positively about people rather than negatively about them.

Slandering people means that we are not only passing judgment on them, but we are also asserting that we are above God’s law.

15. Love each other deeply (1 Peter 4:7–9)

Everything is on the verge of coming to an end. As a result, you must remain vigilant and composed in order to pray effectively. The most important thing to remember is to sincerely love one another because love can hide a multitude of sins. Allow one another to be guests without resentment or resentment. If you felt the end was nigh, what would you prioritize? Peter warns us that the end of all things is near, and as a result, we should prioritize loving one another profoundly at the top of our priority list.

Because love enables us to face the difficulties that emerge as a result of living in a sin-tainted environment.

It is about making space in our life for others who are less fortunate. And Peter doesn’t only urge us to be hospitable; he also instructs us to do so without complaining about the situation. That’s what it looks like when someone loves you.

Becoming a good friend

Friendship is extremely important for followers of Christ. Through forgiveness and hospitality, we are given the opportunity to experience the love of Jesus in our interpersonal relationships. This holds true for both individuals who are familiar with the Lord and those who are not. If you have friends who are not believers in Jesus, the connections you build with them will have a significant influence on their willingness to accept your religion as well. In case you’re searching for some pointers on how to share the gospel with your friends, check out the post 5 Tips for Sharing the Gospel with Friends for some inspiration!

What a Friend We Have in Jesus – Lyrics, Hymn Meaning and Story

Joseph M. Scriven is a well-known author. The ability to come to God each day and surrender our cares and anxieties is a tremendous privilege. Our troubles can be removed and our spirits can be purified when we have Jesus as a friend. Watch this video to hear the beautiful lyrics of the song “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” and understand the wonderful narrative that inspired this uplifting song. This is a song that you’ll want to sing to Him each and every day in order to honor His name. What a buddy we have in Jesus, who is willing to suffer all of our sins and sorrows!

  1. How much serenity we frequently sacrifice, how much unnecessary suffering we endure, just because we fail to bring everything before God in prayer!
  2. Is there any difficulty in any part of the world?
  3. Is it possible to meet a buddy who is so loyal, who would share all of our tragedies with us?
  4. Are we weakened and burdened with a tremendous burden of responsibility?
  5. Do your friends detest you and abandon you?
  6. He will take thee into His arms and shelter thee; thou wilt find comfort in His embrace.
  7. Soon, in a glorious, unclouded day, there will be no need for prayer—only rapture, praise, and infinite adoration will be sufficient.
  8. Songwriters Charles C.
  9. Public Domain has published this article.

The Story Behind What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Joseph Scriven was born in the Irish capital of Dublin in 1820. He received his education at Trinity College in Dublin and was engaged to be married at the time of his death. Scriven’s fiance died in a drowning accident the night before their wedding. A tragic event, compounded by strained family connections, compelled Joseph to adopt the practices and philosophies of the Plymouth Brethren. Scriven met and fell in love with Eliza Roche shortly after relocating to Canada to pursue a teaching career.

  • Joseph was able to empathize with the elderly and underprivileged because of the tragedies and difficulties he had experienced in life.
  • When Joseph penned his renowned hymn in 1855, he was doing so to console his mother, who was still living in Ireland at the time.
  • Scriven himself began to suffer from ill health, financial difficulties, and despair during his final years on the planet.
  • He was suffering from a severe depression at the time.
  • I retreated to an adjoining room, not to sleep, but rather to observe and await the outcome of the situation.
  • Despite extensive searching, no sign of the missing guy could be found until, just after midday, his body was located in a nearby body of water, dead and cold in death.” According to Christianity.com’s article, “How Did Joseph M.

Make Thyself My Vision in the Name of the Most High, the Most Holy, the Most Holy Lord God Almighty Amazing Grace

What Does It Mean to Be Jesus’ Friend?

Anyone who has ever attended a church service is acquainted with the song “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” which is sung every Sunday. During the 1850s, a son wrote the song to console his mother, whom the son had left behind in Ireland when he immigrated to the United States from England. Christ, according to the lyric, “is our buddy because he shares our loads and our sorrows.” A buddy like no other, penned the song to convince his mother that even though he couldn’t be there with her, Jesus was there for her, just as she needed him to be there for her.

  1. The answer is yes, we have a friend in Jesus, but the question I’d want to pose is: Does Jesus have a friend in me?
  2. “I no longer refer to you as servants, since servants are not familiar with their master’s business,” Jesus tells his followers gathered with him in the upper room.
  3. Don’t you think that sounds like an advertisement?
  4. Being a servant, on the other hand, is not a negative experience.
  5. It’s extremely possible that Jesus viewed himself as God’s Servant in the fashion of the Servant Songs of Isaiah, which were written in the Old Testament.
  6. Jesus personified the life of God’s Servant and taught his disciples how to do the same in their own lives.
  7. Jesus tells Peter that he has no part with him until he washes his feet, which he refuses to do (John 13:8).

Perhaps friendship with Jesus is a type of connection that we must learn to cultivate through time.

We will not be able to enter with Jesus into the next level of discipleship unless we learn how to be servants to one another and wash one another’s feet in humility.

The obligation I bear for my sisters and brothers in the human family is significant.

What exactly does Jesus mean when he tells his followers, “Everything I have learned from my Father I have made known to you,” when he adds, “Everything I have learned from my Father I have made known to you”?

He is, without a doubt, referring to a connection, a shared intimacy, and a sharing of God’s passion and compassion for the entire world.

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(John 15:16).

Friendship with Jesus is sharing and bearing the personal knowledge of God’s love and passion for the world with others.

Peacemaking, forgiveness and reconciliation, as well as restorative justice, as well as acts of healing and compassion, are examples of the fruit that comes from a close connection with Christ.

And, of course, the commandment of Jesus is to love one another (John 15:12,17) Friendship with Jesus is both a tremendous gift and a horrible responsibility, and it is difficult to maintain.

It’s also a suffocating amount of weight.

Perhaps the most appropriate comparison is the love of a mother.

It hurts the loving mother more when her kid suffers than it does her when she herself suffers.

Tony Campolo narrates the account of being stranded on a landing strip in northern Haiti, waiting for a tiny plane to take him to a medical facility.

He didn’t say anything.

When the jet eventually touched down and he was able to board, the lady raced alongside the plane as it began to take off, holding the child in one arm and beating on the plane with her other arm.

He remembered the passage from Matthew 25, in which Jesus says to the righteous, “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat.

in the same way that you did it for the least of these, you did it for me,” says the author.

What a comfort it is to sing, “What a friend we have in Jesus,” don’t you think?

However, the most essential issue is if Jesus has found a friend in me. Is it possible that I am Jesus’ friend? In Frankfort, Kentucky, Chuck Queen serves as the pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church. He maintains a blog atAFreshPerspective.

Friendship Bible Verses

Bible Verses About Friendship- When it comes to choosing friends, the Bible provides invaluable insight. Read on to learn more. God is very aware of our need to be recognized and liked by others! He created us for the sake of fellowship. Read Bible passages about friendship and how, if we choose our friends wisely, they may be the most significant source of love, healing, joy, and encouragement in our lives. Within this collection of Scriptures, you will also discover guidance on how to forgive people when you have been wronged, as well as how to deal with tough situations within a relationship.

Proverbs 17:17 says that wisdom comes from within.

Print them off and keep them close by to remind yourself of the wonders of human connection.

A Prayer for Friendship

Lord Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for providing me with such a wonderful group of people with which to share my life. It is with gratitude that I acknowledge the individuals you have blessed me with, the ones who have been by my side throughout my life to love, encourage, support, and elevate me through all of life’s ups and downs. I’m very thankful that I don’t have to go through life alone, and that you have shown me instances of your love via my wonderful friends, which I find to be really comforting.

  • I hope that you will assist me in healing any areas of brokenness or disagreement that exist in my friendships, and that you would enable me to restore any friendships that have been estranged.
  • May I be patient with my friends, and may I be able to forgive without reservation, as you have done for me.
  • Thank you, Jesus, for providing me with friends.
  • I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

10 Biblical Truths about Real Friendship

I’ve never heard somebody express a desire for fewer, but less-meaningful, interpersonal ties. Chacun d’entre nous desires a stronger, more intimate bond with his or her companions. And this is due to the fact that God created us for real friendship. What does the Bible teach about the importance of friendship? Perhaps even more than we had previously imagined. In the Bible, the idea of friendship runs throughout the whole plot, culminating in the cross of Jesus Christ and extending forward into an eternal future of real friendship.

It also provides us with the practical wisdom we require in order to grow it properly. Listed below are eleven biblical ideas that might assist us in reclaiming meaningful friendship:

1. The First Problem in the World Was Not Sin but Solitude

When God created the world, he declared that everything was “excellent” at every stage of the process. However, when he has produced Adam, he makes a startling statement: “Something is not right.” “It’s not healthy for a man to be alone,” says another (Gen. 2:18). The events of this passage occurred before to the fall, before sin entered the earth. Adam was not yet complete; he need the support of others. What does this demonstrate to us? Although our deepest troubles are sin and idolatry, our earliest difficulty was social isolation.

bursts out against all good judgment” is dangerous (Prov.

2. Friendship Is a Whole-Bible Theme

A real relationship with God and with one’s fellow human beings is shown in the Bible, from its conception to its eventual destruction and restoration. In the beginning, Adam and Eve were able to experience the totality of their connection in its entirety. As a result of their transgression (Gen. 3:8), they were forced into hiding, and we’ve been hiding behind our own fig-leaf masks ever since. God, on the other hand, is restoring real relationship. Enoch and Noah, like him, “walked with God,” which is a Hebrew term of friendship, and he reestablish relationship with himself in the same way (Gen.

  • 6:9).
  • Moses met with God “face to face, as a man meets with a friend” and had a conversation with him (Ex.
  • He drew near to those who reached out to him in sincerity of purpose.
  • He came to lay down his life for the sake of his companions (John 15:13-15).
  • We are now able to befriend others in the same way that God in Christ has befriended us.

3. Proverbs Is a Practical Guide to Forging True Friendship

The book of Proverbs provides us with knowledge for managing the difficulties of our interpersonal interactions. And it doesn’t just deal with relationships in general; it also deals with friendship in particular, which is important. For example, it instructs us on what to look for while searching for real companions in our lives (Prov. 13:20;Prov 22:24-25). Because of this, it demonstrates why loyalty is so crucial in building friendship (18:24; 19:6; 27:9–10; etc.). It also demonstrates the one thing that is particularly detrimental to this type of relationship: the spread of secrets (16:28; 17:9).

4. True Friendship Is More Like a Covenant Than a Contract

We frequently regard our relationships as if they were products: we befriend for the benefits we obtain from them. However, just like with a contract, if the relationship does not provide us with the commodities we desire, we are free to terminate it. However, the Bible teaches us that true friendship is more covenantal in nature than contractual in nature. We learn about “a buddy who remains closer than a brother” in the book of Proverbs (Prov.

18:24). “Do not abandon your friend,” the verse instructs us (27:10). We are warned of the fickleness of fair-weather friends in the following passage: “Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is abandoned by his buddy” (19:4).

5. Friendship Thickens Church Community

According to studies, our culture is becoming increasingly socially isolated. We are in the middle of a nationwide pandemic of loneliness. What would happen, though, if local churches felt more like countercultural communities bursting with spiritual vitality and love? Every church is outfitted with all of the resources necessary to function as a community of deep relationships with one another. After all, this is our ancestors’ legacy: When it comes to friendship, the book of Acts presents the church as embodying ancient principles of hospitality (Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:32-35).

The unexpected and inviting counter-cultural glimpse of real friendship that may be found in any small church can be found everywhere.

6. Friendship Is the Goal of the Gospel

Christians correctly believe that salvation consists in the remission of sins and the assurance of eternal life. But it is more than this. Jesus extends the privilege of becoming his friend to anybody who places their confidence in him (John 15:14–15). And, after all, what really is eternal life? As Jesus put it, “this is everlasting life: that they know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, your Son, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). He saved us so that we may have a personal connection with the triune God (14:20–23).

We shall have real fellowship with all other Christians in the new creation when Christ returns.

7. The Cross Is History’s Most Heroic Act of Friendship

Jesus wants us to think of the crucifixion in terms of friendship rather than as a punishment. The night before he died, when he taught to his followers the significance of the crucifixion and the cross’s meaning, Jesus declared, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus’ death on the cross was unquestionably an act of substitutionary atonement, in which He bore the wrath of God on our behalf. However, it is also, and this is extremely personal to me, a relational act of friendship.

In other words, Christ did not die for an indeterminate portion of humanity; he died for specific individuals.

8. Jesus Is Our Truest Friend

Many Christians are reluctant to refer to Jesus as a friend. Jesus, on the other hand, does not share our reservations. And it is important to him that we accept this as true. He asks us to think of our connection in terms of friendship rather than romantic love (John 15:12-17). The false dichotomy of either-or—”Jesus is our Monarch, not our buddy!”—might be replaced with the biblical both-and: Jesus is both our wonderful king and our best friend.

9. Friendship Shows the World That We Belong to Jesus

People in this lonely world of broken relationships will recognize that something has come from above when they see churches filled with friendships—imperfect friendships, to be sure, but relationships filled with genuine repentance and forgiveness—and they will know that something has come from above. They will be able to verify that our claims about Jesus as a sinner’s friend are genuine. The Bible states that all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another in John 13:35: “by this all people will know that you are my disciples.” And later in this same discourse, Jesus explained this “love for one another” in terms of the reciprocal affection of friends.

And how has he shown us his love?

“There is no greater love than this, that someone would lay down his or her life for his or her companions” (15:13). This is how we are to demonstrate to the world that we are Jesus’ disciples: by loving one another in the same way that he loved us, which is via sacrificial friendship.

10. Friendship-with God and One Another-Is Our Greatest Joy

For a specific reason, the apostle John wrote to believers: “so that you, too, may have company with us; and certainly, our friendship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” And we are writing these things down in order for our happiness to be full” (1 John 1:3-4). According to John, true joy is achieved via vertical friendship with God and horizontal fellowship with one another. In our friendship with God and with one another, we find our greatest happiness. It is for this reason that Jonathan Edwards stated that friendship is “the ultimate happiness of all moral actors” (Works, 23:350).

The Bible has all of the information we require to reclaim a more expansive understanding of real friendship.

Friendship was not given to us; rather, it was given to us by God.

Photograph courtesy of Thinkstock/Fizkes Hunter (MA, Wheaton College) is the teaching pastor of Zionsville Fellowship in Zionsville, Indiana.

He formerly worked as a preacher for young people at Grace Church of DuPage and as a religious studies instructor at College of DuPage, among other positions.

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