Laced With Grace – Christian Devotions

What a Friend

By Iris Nelson September 3, 2010 Devotion, Life

Corky_14Read: John 15:12-17

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
~ John 15:12 (ESV)

Friendships are vital in our lives. God has blessed me with some incredible friends, near and far. My friends comfort, pray, and encourage me when I need it most.

One of my friends is a four-legged, furry type. Over the years we have had several dogs, but Corky is the cutest and most loving, furry friend we have had in this home. Some of you may remember we rescued Corky from the pound last year. I guess that is why he is so attached to my husband and I.

The other night I was taking some photographs for an online publication. I was sitting on our living room floor to get the photograph I wanted. Corky came running in to see what I was doing. He started getting into his ‘cutie-motion’ to make sure that I would not forget about him. He ended up getting his portrait taken.

For some reason, our impromptu portrait session reminded me of the song, “Oh, what a Friend we have in Jesus”. Don’t ask, my mind sometimes just goes off and I cannot stop myself singing about Jesus.

In John 15, Jesus is telling us to love each other just as He has loved us. He goes on to say:

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” ~ John 15:15

It is so beautiful that we can take all of our cares, our hurts and our sorrows to Him, Who really cares because He has been there. Jesus understands when I ask why my friend is going through breast-cancer or why my other friend has a hard time finding work. I may not get the answer to my prayers, but I know that Jesus loves us through the good and the bad.

“What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”
~ Joseph M. Scriven

Thank you Lord for Your incredible love and Your friendship. Even though I might not understand the ‘whys’ of life, I know that I can trust You for my future and the future of my friends. You are always at our side in the good and the bad. I can take all my pain and grief to You, so that I do not have to carry the load alone. In Your precious name, Amen.

Photo & Content Copyright © Iris Nelson

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7 thoughts on “What a Friend”

  2. Krista

    Iris,

    Your dog is just so precious! 🙂

    What a friend he is indeed. He is so caring and understanding. There is nobody like Jesus! When I am hurting, Jesus is there loving me and listening to me.

    God Bless!