Experts who track the changing vocabulary of the English language chose unfriend as the New Oxford American Dictionary Word of the Year for 2009. They defined it as a verb, “to remove someone as a friend on a social networking Web site,” such as Facebook. On that site, friends allow each other to access the personal information on their Facebook pages. They may never meet face to face or even exchange greetings online. In our world of fleeting cyber acquaintances, we are beginning to realize that having a true friend means more now than ever before.
When Jesus called His disciples “friends” (John 15:15), He spoke of a unique relationship involving mutual commitment. He was only hours from laying down His life (v.13), and He asked them to show their friendship by keeping His commands (v.14). Most astonishing, perhaps, is Jesus’ statement: “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” (v.15).
In a genuine friendship, one’s faithfulness can shore up the other’s in times of discouragement or fear. That is what Jesus is to us—our always faithful, forever Friend. — by David C. McCasland (Our Daily Bread; 1/29/12)
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Hallelujah! What a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end. —Chapman
The dearest friend on earth
is but a mere shadow compared to Jesus.
READ: John 15:9-17
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father‘s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
stormrider900: thk you my friend…
bill sr: how well I remember that hymn being sung in church…
mrsjb: well you have spoken…
snoopsister: you are so right…
Thank you for this beautiful reminder that true “friends” are certainly more than the “acquaintances” we often meet on social media sites like Facebook. Now, that said, I am one of the fortunate people who actually has a very small circle of women that I can truly call “friends.” Women who have known me from all time periods of my life – girls who knew me when I was the purest me – before I was Mrs. So and So, Mother of my children, the me who wasn’t bogged down with worry over things like bills, aging parents and the general aggravations of life that creep up on us over time. And then, there are the women who met me in the midst of all of those things and chose to come into my world and love me anyway. They are the women who get on planes and come to my rescue when life has fallen in on me. They are the women who trust me to share their lives and trust my input into their lives. They know I will come running, day or night, to hold them up. We share everything, we laugh, cry, celebrate and mourn together. We pray together. We understand that we are human and make mistakes and don’t hold grudges over the rare miscommunications. And then there ARE the people that I lost touch with over the years – people who shaped my life at whatever stage – that I’ve reconnected with through Facebook. A few of these friendships have been renewed and have added to my life in ways I realized I’ve missed over the years. I can only hope that I am as good and true of a friend to these women (and a couple of men!) as they are to me. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my acquaintances, but in order for an acquaintance to actually become a friend (hey, we have to start somewhere), time and loyalty are the only test. I am well aware that Jesus, being my number one fan, and I His, has given me these Earthly friends that we may love and share our lives as he shared his life with his Apostles. I think when it boils down to it, that’s really all true friends are – Apostles – we follow each other and are God’s gift to one another, that we may experience love and communion here on Earth until we are reunited with our Father in Heaven. What an amazing, loving Lord we have! I am grateful for your reminder of the gifts of *true* friendships. We all enter one another’s lives for a reason – maybe just for a season – but, I am ever aware that it is by God’s divine hand that his Children cross paths and we should always try to seek the answers as to why God has allowed our lives to intersect!
THANKS! Mr. Massie! Facebook is the place where I’ve gained more friends that I’ve NEVER had and lost more friends that I once loved. If I “friend” someone it must mean that I like them, although many who want to be my friend have never met me or know anything more than my name, and if I don’t “friend” someone I once knew, male or female, they are offended that I don’t WANT TO BE their friend any longer! (both statements of why ‘I’ “friend” or don’t “friend” are untrue.) And now that we can “REACH OUT AND TOuCH” any and everyone 60 min/day/24/7/365 who could possibly be lonely!! Only very few have a REAL FRIEND, hardly anyone knows what a ‘friend’ is but thank you for the REAL AND TRUE definition, JESUS! He’s my BEST FRIEND who ‘sticks closer than a ‘sister’, mother, brother or father. Get to know Him and LET Him know you too.
Thanks Mychal for bringing back the childhood memories of singing “Oh what a friend we have in Jesus” and the peace and contentment of those days when it seemed the whole world was in order.
Great UN-Rant Mychal. Pretty much sums up the definition of what friends should be to one another. It never hurts to be reminded. Thank you.