Thankful For God's gift of friends, for my best friend, Jesus!

On Friday, October 1, long time friends, Rick and Kristi Armstrong, flew to Alaska and are staying and visiting with Kathy and with me. In August 1971 Rick and Kristi started school with me at Concordia Lutheran College in Austin, Texas. Pastor Tony Schultz from Anchorage Lutheran Church was also part of that class. So we have now known each other for over 50 years! Rick and Tony and I graduated from Concordia Seminary in May 1979. Kristi and Kathy graduated from Lutheran School of Nursing in May 1977.

Rick and Kristi introduced Kathy and me during our time of attending school in St. Louis. When Kathy and I were married in Memphis, TN, in 1977, Rick was my best man and Kristi was a bridesmaid, who made our wedding cake. I served as a groomsman or best man in both Rick and Tony’s weddings. And they were both asked to serve in Kathy’s and my wedding. Tony and Rick and I have served as pastors and in the Lord’s church for over 40 years, and we have visited each other in the various places we lived and served around the country. What I am saying is this: I have some really good friends!

God inspired Solomon to write about friends in Proverbs 18: 24, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” The older I grow the more thankful I become that I have friends, friends who stick close, friends who listen, who encourage, and who help. I am also thankful for a close, loving family. Many people I know do not have loving family, nor close friends. God has blessed me with both family and friends. Thank you, Lord! In fact, even though Pastor Schultz and Pastor Armstrong and I have known each other for over 50 years, longer than I have known my wife, I also have made other really good friends in Alaska, and other places in God’s church. What a blessing God has given!

However, our best friend really is Jesus. Listen to Jesus’ words in John 15:15-17. “15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.” If my earthly friends listen, I can go to Jesus in prayer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You have heard, “You can’t pick your family, but you CAN choose your friends.” Jesus chose us! If other friends encourage, correct, and strengthen us, I can trust my Lord to be even more faithful and helpful in His friendship. Also, my friend, Jesus, calls me to be a friend.

But please consider, a real friend does even more. A true friend will sacrifice and give of themselves to help you. Jesus teaches, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15: 13) Therefore, Jesus is our greatest friend. Our Lord did lay down His life for us, suffering and dying on the cross to pay the debt for our sins. Jesus died so that we might have eternal life by God’s grace, through faith that Jesus died and rose for us. Jesus is my best friend!

My really good earthly friends and my family know Jesus. That does not mean that a person who does not know Jesus can’t have friends, or be a friend. But, when we know the one who lived for us, who died for us, and who rose for us, we can be better friends to one another. We have a guide as we help, correct, and encourage each other. We have one who has sacrificed for us, enabling us to give ourselves for those we care about.

Do you have friends? Do you know Jesus? Are you a friend?