Jesus as friend:

If you have been in the church for a long time, there are a lot of names that are given to Jesus.  He is a Savior, Redeemer, son of God, Holy, Mighty, Righteous, and many more.  All of these words are wonderful and they all encapsulate the greatness of the Lord.   However, while I do believe that all these words are amazing and do very well describe God in a very holy way, it also can sometimes make it seem like he is a distant figure.  He is a God, so he is definitely Holy, Mighty, Perfect, something that we are not, but he is also supposed to have a relationship with the very people that he has created. I think that while knowing that God is all these things is right and good, it can make it hard to feel as though we can really get close to him.  

Recently I was listening to the song by Unspoken called, “You’ve always been,” and I realized that there are even more words to describe Jesus that I hardly ever think of using.  The chorus song says, “You’ve been my Savior, Sustainer, when I’m at my end; My Healer, Redeemer, again and again; My Mother and my Father, Brother, Sister, and Friend; Everything I’ve needed Lord, You’ve always been.”  I had never thought about describing God as family members, but it is very true that when we are without any particular family members, God can take the place as that particular family member.  While God is the perfect Savior and the perfect Judge, he also can be something that is very close and very loving.  God did not create humans to have these perfect little robots, (if he did, then he would have made it so we are completely perfect), but instead God wanted to create humans to have a relationship with.  

During this time this year of losing two of my family members and a pet, I have needed to have many friends more than anything else.  I have had so many friends be good people to me over the past few months.  I have received some great gifts and some kind words from friends when I have been struggling.  I have also had friends who have just been willing to come, spend time, and listen to me while I cry my eyes out.  Isn’t it fabulous that I also have a wonderful friend in the Lord during this time.  I realized that through this time, I need to look at the Lord as a being that is there for me continuously such as a friend would be.  I can still see God as a Holy and Mighty figure, but I also can see him as someone who is by my side and loving me.    

This, also overall reminds me how important it is to be a good friend.  I think we can often forget how important friends are or how important it is to be a good one.  This, I believe can be especially true as people get older.  God also values the relationship and power of friendship.  Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”  A friend which can be the brother and sister that you choose for yourself and someone may have chosen you as a friend.  When you are chosen to be a friend, you are basically being chosen to love that person for the rest of your life and to be there for them in the times of intense pain and the times of tremendous joy.  It is not an easy task, but it is worthy of the work that it requires.  

The last reflection piece I want you reading this to think about is, “What do you need the Lord to be for you right now?”  What exactly do you need from God?  I think there are many times that we can look at the Lord as a very distant figure and therefore we don’t end up feeling close or loved by him.  However, that is not what he is supposed to feel to us.  He is supposed to be and feel incredibly close.  This is precisely why God is often called, Holy Father.  Father-an intimate and loving figure in many lives.  (Granted, that isn’t true for everyone, but he is supposed to serve as the perfect example).  Do you need God to feel less like a Judge and a distant Holy God to more of an intimate figure? Really take the time to think about what you need the most and what God needs to be to you.