I was recently reading in the book of John – Chapter 15… most of us are familiar with the description of Jesus as the vine, and us as branches – it’s an engaging example.  I love the reminder that it’s only through Jesus that I can accomplish anything!  But right after that, in the same chapter, Jesus goes on to talk about being our friend: 

John 15:11-15

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 

Jesus says, “You are my friends…”!  Seriously? The Creator of the Universe, the very Word of God is my friend???

When we have an important friend we want to tell everyone!

When I was in my late 20’s, I was a bank manager.  At that time my step-father was the President of a company where I lived in Alexandria, Virginia.  And in Alexandria the mayor was a part time gig – and my step-dad hired the mayor at that time to use his extensive network of connections to help promote his business.  Jim and his wife were friends of my parents, and were even part of our family Thanksgiving one year.

As a bank manager, part of my job was to be an active part of the community where my branch office was located, which meant attending fundraisers, chamber of commerce luncheons, and local community events.  And guess who I ran into every once in awhile?  Yep! Our family friend, Jim!  Only he wasn’t the mayor anymore, he had become our U.S. Congressman!  I really liked being able to tell people I knew him, and he always took time to talk to me, and to ask about my career and how my family was doing. Somehow I felt like I was important because I knew someone important!  

And it makes me ask myself: What made it easy to tell everyone I knew a congressman, but not so easy to tell people I know Jesus?

Why wouldn’t we share such amazing news?

Here’s a silly example: My family and I are enjoying a meal at a restaurant.  So let’s just say while I was eating, I found diamonds in the coleslaw! (Let’s just say I’m smart enough to know they are real diamonds). What might I do about it?

• I could whisper to my family that I’d found diamonds in the coleslaw, and we could all order more hoping we’d get more diamonds – but do it quietly so we could get all the diamonds. We would just order LOTS of coleslaw.
• I also might call my friends, and whisper to them to come to the restaurant and get the coleslaw so they could get some diamonds, too.

• But what about the strangers in the restaurant?  What would make me hesitate to share this great fortune with strangers?
  • Maybe I believe that I should have all the diamonds to myself.  If I tell, I might get less (totally selfish).  
  • Or perhaps I want to be the one who decides who gets to know and who doesn’t. (Control)
  • Or maybe they will just think I’m crazy to think there are diamonds in the coleslaw!  So I keep the news to myself (because I want to look good.)

So let’s connect the dots.  There are reasons we don’t share Jesus – maybe you connect with one of the “diamond” reasons: selfishness, control, looking good…  Jesus is better than diamonds, right?  

My friend Jesus is big enough to be friends with EVERYONE… and sharing the Good News of Jesus never diminishes the supply.  Somehow He’s just big enough to go around!  

• So, have you shared the good news of Jesus with your family?
• Have you shared Him with your friends?
• And what is keeping you from sharing with EVERYONE?

I appreciated the verses I read a few minutes ago… I think it’s so cool that Jesus says, “I have called you friends”.    But, that’s not all he says.  Those verses tell us that we are His friends if we keep His commandments – in these verses the commandment is LOVE.  

Here’s what it says at the end of the book of Mark – chapter 16.  Jesus has risen, and is talking to His disciples:

‘And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”  Mark 16:15-18

God wants to act decisively and powerfully in the lives of people we encounter every day.  He wants to do that through us.  For us it’s probably Phoenix.  For some it might be very far away … but it starts with the command to share the Good News.

Here’s the end of the section in John chapter 15 that we started with – these are verses 15-16 (remember, it’s Jesus talking):

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.”

I’m praying as I write this, for the willingness to be more bold than ever about sharing Jesus.  I hope you might, too.

It’s almost 5AM, and about 40 minutes ago, a piece of my heart drove away in a minivan and a moving truck.  I was fine until I saw the truck drive away. The truck that contained all the “stuff” that meant they were here…the furniture, towels, ipads, dishes, games…

Saying goodbye sucks.  One day someone you love is part of your everyday life, and the next they’re gone, leaving a huge hole where all of our interaction used to be.  And they aren’t sitting in their regular place at church, or stopping by to drop off something they found on sale that they know you need, or dropping by for a quick swim in the pool.  And the hole feels huge, and the space they used to fill seems empty.

Ultimately, the pain is a sign that we loved big and well.  We connected on a level that went way beyond just an acquaintance.  We loved each other. We stood beside each other in difficult times.  We laughed at each other, and at all the silly little things that happen in life.  We hugged each other’s kids, shared lots of loud and crowded family dinners, and prayed for each other.

And I’m reminded that loving big means that it hurts to say goodbye.

And then my mind goes to the first chapter of the book of Ephesians, and I am overcome with gratitude for the verses that speak to my heart:

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.    – Ephesians 1:3-8

There’s a new definition of family in these verses that I don’t want to forget.  It speaks of an incredible love, grace and kindness that can’t be found in regular human relationships:

• We are united with Christ
• God loves us and chose us
• We have been adopted into God’s family
• Through Jesus we know grace, kindness, wisdom and understanding
• We are forgiven because of God’s gift of His Son

And when I feel the pain of being apart from people I have cared for so deeply, I remember that no matter how much they love me, or I love them, God’s amazing love is bigger even than I can fathom.  And every other relationship pales in comparison.

God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.   -Ephesians 1:9-11

Although I may be feeling the pain of physical separation from people I love, I am NEVER separated from the love of God.  It is in Him that I am complete and have all I need.  I can’t think of a better promise. Because I have been adopted by God, I will receive an inheritance from Him, just as if I would from my own father.  Now THAT’S family!

He chose me.  And He has a plan.  And even though I’m sad this morning, I’m OK. Because God has a plan, and it’s better than mine!  For me and for that beautiful family in the minivan.