With friends like this…

…Who needs enemies? The first few verses of John are favorites of mine. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, he was with God in the beginning. It boggles my mind to know that Jesus was the Prince of Glory and chose to come to a dusty little town born of parents that were inexperienced and poor! He gave up the shimmering garments of heaven for swaddling clothes and the bed of a King for a manger in an animal’s stall. When He got here and grew to be a man, He chose a band of men, the disciples. Jesus took them and promised to make them fishers of men. They were with Him daily and saw all He did, from feeding the five thousand and opening blinded eyes to raising the dead and eating with tax collectors. They saw him change water into wine at a wedding and talk with the woman at the well, telling her the secrets of her life. Just reminding you so that you will realize, that they KNEW him.

I am reminded of a secular song, “If you don’t know me by now, you will never, ever, never know me…at all” They knew the Lord as a friend. Can you imagine seeing Peter standing outside of where Jesus was being questioned and watch him DENY ever even knowing Him? Now imagine Judas as he walks in collect the money he was getting in exchange for Jesus’ life. Judas took the 30 pieces of silver, they were heavy in the bag and felt so good to jingle. I can almost see him looking into the bag, just checking, not able to believe his good luck! He went to the Garden and planted the most famous kiss of all times on the cheek of our Lord.

In this day and time we not only deny our Lord every day through things that we allow in ourselves, but we deny the Lord any time that we hurt each other. I don’t have to agree with your theology to love you! If you have sinned it is none of my business to correct you in words but by living a life in your presence that will convict you and make you want to live a better life. It will certainly do no good for you or me if I choose to talk about you, run you down, or constantly try to ruin your reputation. 2 Cor. 10:12 We’re not, understand, putting ourselves in a league with those who boast that they’re our superiors. We wouldn’t dare do that. But in all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point.

When you begin to criticize others you are saying that you, yourself, are superior, else how could you make such a judgment? Be merciful, dear friend, you may find yourself in a situation where you may fall short and others will be judging YOU!

We are told in the Word that if we judge someone we are setting ourselves up for judgment by the same measure! So it would be best to keep your lip zipped and maybe someone will return the favor!

Don’t let it be said of you, as it could be of Judas…”with friends like you, who needs enemies?” I went to the funeral of a lady; there were songs, dances and videos, it was a wonderful memorial of her life. What spoke volumes to me was that the church was absolutely packed with people that she had, in one way or another, touched by her life. She was a quite, unassuming lady, yet in her death her voice was heard. Her quiet way of keeping her family’s secrets close to her chest, guarding her family from the inside, and being faithful, was what we remembered. The only thing she really wanted was to have her family united.

To me, being united means: Maybe you don’t agree with me, you might even see me as a sinner, but you will unite to protect me from the enemy of my soul. You will agree to pray for me, and with me, asking for God’s secrets and will to be revealed to us all. Be a faithful friend that is a secret keeper before men and a secret pray-er before God!