Praying the Names of God - April 5
From Praying the Names of Jesus Week Sixteen, Day Five
The Name
Jesus is not only Lord and Master but the greatest of all friends, who willingly proved his friendship by his death on the cross. By this costly gesture he has won the friendship of millions of men and women from every tongue and tribe and nation. When you pray to Jesus your Friend, you are praying to the One who loved you before you were loveable and who links you together with his many friends throughout the world.
Key Scripture
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13
***
Friday
Promises Associated with His Name
Absolute Friends is the title of a novel by spymaster John Le Carré. It chronicles the relationship of two friends who become spies during the Cold War and beyond. Unfortunately for both men, their absolute friendship leads to their mutual destruction. And so it is with some relationships, though usually on a less dramatic scale. I know a father, for instance, who is very worried about a friendship his twelve-year-old son has recently forged, aware as he is that two rebellious adolescents usually hurtle downhill faster than one. This father knows that friendships are rarely neutral and that they usually take us somewhere, either up or down. Even the best friendship can take a downward turn at times because it is forged by two imperfect people.
But what happens when the equation changes, when one side of the friendship consists of someone who is absolutely perfect? Doesn't it have the potential, depending on our willingness, to always take us upward? Thank Christ today for being the only Friend capable of loving you always. Let his friendship bring joy to your heart.
Promises in Scripture
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
Proverbs 17:17
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.
Proverbs 27:9
Continued Prayer and Praise
Recall that God speaks to his friends. (Exodus 33:7-11)
Pray for Christ to watch over you. (Job 29:2-6)
Consider that a cord of three strands is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
Remember that it is possible to betray Christ's friendship. (Matthew 26:47-51)
Consider how Jesus befriends sinners. (Luke 5:17-20)
Recognize Christ as your Friend. (John 21:4-7)
Act like Christ's friend. (James 2:20-24)
For more from Ann Spangler, please visit her blogspot on Christianity.com. And be sure to check out Ann's newest books on AnnSpangler.com. To hear more from Ann Spangler, sign up today at annspangler.substack.com.
Meet your spiritual ancestors as they really were: Less Than Perfect: Broken Men and Women of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them.
