“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24
Today is my dearest friend’s 65th birthday. We met in 7th grade and have remained close friends through the last 53 years. Over the years, we have shared so much together! After high school, we went to separate colleges, but our friendship remained strong. When I married, she was there as my maid of honor. When my children were growing up, she was there. When I went through my battle with breast cancer, she was there. When death invaded my life, she was there. Whenever I needed her, she was there.
The Bibles says, “A friend loveth at all times…” (Proverbs 17:17), and that is my friend, Lorrie. Without her, my life would not be as blessed as it has been, and I cannot imagine going through it without her by my side even though we live 2500 miles apart!
God has been good to me to give me such a wonderful friend, but I have another friend who is also very special to me. He means more to me than I can ever say in mere words. Like Lorrie, He has remained a true and steadfast friend throughout the years. I met Him on March 10, 1968. That was the day I asked Jesus to become my Saviour. At that moment, He became my very best friend, and I love Him dearly! Since that time, He has never left my side. He has helped me grow to love Him more and more through the years as I read about Him in His Word. He has been with me through good times and bad, times of sorrow and times of joy. I cannot imagine my life or where I would be today without Him.
Since I met Him, He has been with me through every single moment of my life… my school years, my wedding, the birth of my children, my struggle with cancer, the death of my parents and in-laws, raising my kids… you name it, Jesus was there, and I know He will be with me from now and throughout all eternity. He promised me that, and He always keeps His promises. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
The love that Jesus has for me never changes. It is an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) In fact, Jesus loved me so much that He sacrificed Himself, shedding His precious blood on an old rugged cross, so I could have everlasting life with Him in heaven forever. John 15:13 states, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” That’s my friend; that’s my Saviour!
I have been doubly blessed in my life when it comes to friends. First, I have had the love and support of Lorrie, my dearest and truest friend on earth, for more than half a century. I pray for many more years of friendship with her. Second, I have the eternal love and support of a Saviour who gave Himself for me that I might have an earthly life rich and full of God’s blessings and the blessed assurance of everlasting life with Him one day in heaven for all eternity! John 10:10 records the words of Jesus when He said, “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Because of Jesus, I have a life that is amazingly wonderful here and a future life that He has promised to be even more incredible! Psalm 37:4 states, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” How blessed of God I have been!
I’ve found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay;
He tells me every care on Him to roll.
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
He’ll never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith, and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear:
With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill,
When crowned at last in glory, I’ll see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll.
He’s the “Lily of the Valley,” the Bright and Morning Star;
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul!
(from “I’ve Found a Friend in Jesus” by Charles W Fry)
“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.” – Proverbs 27:9
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Have you met my dear friend, Jesus? I’d love to introduce you to Him!