Honor God
Help People
A FRIEND OF JESUS
June 11, 2024But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
That I may tell of all Your works. Psalm 73:28
1. DRAW NEAR TO GOD. This Psalm of Asaph articulates something we see in the lives of Moses, David, Abraham, and absolutely in Jesus’ life – a personal relationship with God. Jesus said to His disciples that we are His friends if we keep His commandments; “His commandments are not burdensome” (John 15:14; 1 John 5:3). The principal commandments in the New Testament are to love God, then love your neighbor and yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).The most important and rewarding thing you can do is build a personal connection with God.
2. CONNECTION WITH GOD BRINGS CONFIDENCE. The devil comes to downplay and downgrade to make people feel miserable and insecure. He forfeited his place with the Father, and now his misery demands company, so he tries to hinder humanity from connecting with God. The Old Testament theme of the nearness of God was fulfilled in the New Testament when God sent Jesus to restore His connection to humanity: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). In the book of Revelation, Jesus-followers are called, “priests unto God” (Revelation 1:6 KJV). That priesthood represents connection and relationship with Jesus, which fosters confidence and heals low self-esteem.
3. MAKE FELLOWSHIP A PRIORITY. In the book of Joshua, after the people of Israel had gone through battle after battle and obtained what God had promised them, Joshua said: look, if you want to follow the gods that you’ve noticed along the way, the idolatry along the way, you can. “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15b). I want my fellowship with God to be the priority of my Christian life – where I am listening to God, being sensitive to His voice, and connecting with Him. When I catch my prayer life becoming just a routine, I remind myself that I am here to talk to and connect with God. Let’s get in the secret place with God and fix our hearts on Him.
PRAY THIS PRAYER:
Father, help me to truly and sincerely flow with You and connect with You. May my Christian life and walk with You be real, authentic, and consistent. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Press on,
Pastor Jeff Perry
friend, noun
One that seeks the society or welfare of another whom he holds in affection, respect, or esteem or whose companionship and personality are pleasurable.
Copyright © 2024 St. Louis Family Church, All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. *Includes NASB footnote for this verse. Friend, N. (1). Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, C. & G. Merriam CO., 1971, p. 911.
