Ears To Hear # 28

♫ MY BEST FRIEND  IS  JESUS ♫

         When we were younger we were taught to sing this and say it. It sounded good and we received it. It was true but we had no idea, just how TRUE it was until we had walked many miles with Him.
         Other friends come and go. They appear to walk with us for a season, but Jesus is with us all the way. From birth through eternity, He walks beside us.
         How could a friendship possibly get any better? But it does. The old song, “Every Day with Jesus is Sweeter than the Day Before”, is so true. I don’t know that we always recognize the “sweetness” as the world uses that word, but definitely “stronger”. The better we know Him, the more comfort and stability and confidence we have that we are never alone. Our Best Friend is so close that we find ourselves thinking the same thoughts and speaking the same words even before the other one speaks.

(Babs and Susie)

         God places special gifts in each of us. We seldom recognize them as gifts, but my friend Susie Grier Jaynes pointed out one that God gave me. We were on the second floor of Alexander Hall, our dormitory at BaylorUniversity, waiting for the elevator, when Susie said, “Gwen, most people want to keep their friends to themselves, but you are always wanting your friends to meet and know each other.”
         I had no idea at that time that this was a build-in gift from God. It’s interesting now, how that scene has remained in my memory bank and returns to me now for clarification.
         I was surprised by what she said, but pleasantly so. “Yes, I like that.”, I thought. “But isn’t everyone that way?”
         “Oh, well. That was nice.”, I reasoned briefly as the elevator door opened and Susie and I went on our youthful co-ed journey across the campus.
         That day, I thought Susie was my best friend. She was the one I hung around with at that season in my life. But we had a mutual Best Friend, Jesus, and He was with us more than we understood.

Susie and Don Berry

         As Susie went her God-ordained way, I still feel as close to her today as I did that day standing by the elevator. Only God knows how this can be…other than His Provision of our mutual “Best Friend” who has bound us together by His Love as He abides in us. We are more aware of His presence now than we are needful of each other’s physical presence.
         We, meaning all who know Him, are stronger today and wiser, because of our constant awareness of His presence. There is not a morning that comes now, that we don’t say, “Good Morning Father. Good Morning Jesus. Good Morning Holy Spirit.” As we each study His Word, we are convinced of His faithfulness to always remain our Very Best Friend.

         He promised and we can TRUST Him to Keep His Word!

[Let this be a simple appetizer. Seek the Word for yourself today so that it is even more precious to you as    you eat from your own plate…more than mine. If the Lord hasn’t directed you otherwise, you will be blessed by going to your concordance and doing a word search on the word: “Friend”. 
Proverbs 17:17 and Proverbs 18:24 are two great verses to begin with.]

 

“A friend loveth at all times….” And, “…there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.” Thanks Susie, for being a friend like Jesus.