The Faithful Friend

I've had some friends in the past, who to be their friend, you had to be their biggest fan. When you spent time with them, all they wanted to do was talk about themselves, but those one-sided friendships didn't last long. I've had friends who told lies about me behind my back, and like Caesar, I've had my Brutus, and I've got the knife wounds to show it.

I've had some friends, who to be their friend, meant they had to have complete control over you, because they were very controlling persons, but who wants a smothering friend like that? I've had my share of fair-weather friends, who loved to hang out with you and laugh with you, so long as you were paying their way, buying them a round of golf or dinner. But when hard times came, those friends scattered like leaves in the wind. I've had friends who would talk about me behind my back, in old Arab proverb states, he who tells you about others will tell others about you.

I've even had friends steal from me, and cheat me. I've had friends desert me, like Demas and Alexander the coppersmith. I've had friends who said they were your friend, but like Judas, they betrayed you in the end.

Do you know what I'm talking about? Have you ever had any friends like I just mentioned? I know it's hard to find a good friend. When you find a real friend, they are like pure gold, but even those kind of friends eventually leave you through death. But the one friend that has never failed me or disappointed me is my faithful friend, Jesus of Nazareth.

He has stuck it out with me through thick and thin, good times and bad times, sad times and hard times. He's always been there for me, even though I haven't always been there for him. I've never known a friend better than Jesus.

He loves me no matter what. When I fall, he helps me up. When I cry, he wipes my tears.

When I'm hurting, he holds me. When I'm lonely, he walks close beside me. He's stayed my friend and has never let me down, even though I've let him down more than I care to remember.

He's always been there for me in sickness and in grief, and when I'm discouraged, he encourages me. He really has a vested interest in being my friend. He wants the very best for me from his perspective, and he wants me to become the best I can be for him.

He's never let me down, and he'll never let me go. Jesus is a friend, a faithful friend, to the end. Jesus said, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Do you know this wonderful friend, Jesus? I hope you do. You'll never find another quite like him. Jesus is the faithful friend.

Let us pray.