Friends

Friends

A believer said to me, “I visited my friends, but I left them with such an empty heart.” Let us choose our friends the way Jesus did. He said, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:14. Those who do what Jesus commands are Jesus’ friends; only they and they alone, should be your friends. Then you will also be like Jesus in this area. Notice the nature of this spiritual friendship. Jesus speaks about it with these words: “I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” V. 15. The evidence of friendship is that we make known to one another what we have heard from God. Then we will not part from one another with an empty heart. When we leave each other with an empty heart, it proves several things. First of all, that you were not among friends but among robbers who took what you had and sent you away empty. Secondly, that you lacked the sword of the Spirit to defend what was in your heart, and thirdly, that you were cultivating friendship with robbers.

Paul says, “There are many insubordinate, both idle talkers, and deceivers . . . whose mouths must be stopped.” Tit. 1:10-11. You were deceived and went along with their empty talk. Instead of taking up the battle against them and stopping their mouths, you allowed yourself to be robbed. And you still call these robbers your friends! If you love God and His gifts, you will be on guard so that no one will break in and steal. When you do this, there is no power that can rob you of what you have received from God. True friends will make known to you what they have heard from their heavenly Father. Their words are full of heavenly treasures, which they will abundantly pour into your heart. Be no longer deceived calling robbers your friends, but choose what is right.