Proverbs 18 "He Chose Me"

"A man of many companions may come to ruin,
 but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

 We all have friends. We have the friends we know on a first name basis, but don't spend time with. Then, there are the few we do spend time with. We get to know their desires, their struggles, their joys. We get real with them. We get to know their very person.

So who is this friend? Who loves me and wants to be around me so much that he sticks closer than a brother?

Open your Bible to John 15:14-17.

This passage begins with "You are my friends if you do what I command." v.14

It ends with, "This is my command: Love each other." v.17

Now, we could stop right there and call it good, but let's dig in a bit more. Hold on, because it gets beautiful!

In verse 15 of the above passage from John, Jesus said, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant doesn't know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you."

Do you see it?! Do you see the contrast? Masters give orders to the servants, who just do as they are told. They change plans at the masters every want and whim. But Jesus said we aren't servants because He taught us everything He learned from His Father! Everything. It's laid out in His word for everyone to read. We have the opportunity to know His plan if we so choose. He leaves it completely up to us. But when we choose to believe God and do what He commands, He calls us His friend! (see John 15:14 again.)

Need more proof?

"Abraham believed God...and he was called God's friend." James 2:23

We can know this is for us just as much as it was for Abraham, by Galatians 3:26-29,

"If you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's seed and heir according to the promise."

How absolutely beautiful that you and I are Abraham's seed and therefore, also called God's friends!

But, wait! It gets even better! In between John 15:14 and 17, there's a little nugget that just thrills me to the core. Look at verse 16.

Jesus said, "You did not choose me, but I CHOSE YOU..."

Gasp! He CHOSE me.

He CHOSE you.

My God, my Jesus, chose me. Out of all the people in the world He chose me. ME!!! To be His friend!

Does that delight anyone else? To know that you have a special place all our own in God's heart. To know He wants to spend time with you. Just you. All alone. By yourselves. No one else. Just you and just God. The One who sticks closer than a brother.

Absolutely beautiful.

Pray with me.

Thank you, Jesus, for choosing me. Thank you for choosing me to be all Yours. How great is Your love that You call us Your children. You long to spend time with each one of us. All alone. Just You and just me. My Lord, my God, my Jesus, how awesome and glorious You are. Thank you for not forsaking me. Thank you for never leaving me to fend for myself. You alone are good. You alone are God. You are mine. I am Yours. I have no words enough.....thank you, Jesus. Amen