God can seem so far away, so distant. God can seem so Holy and other, and pure that even if He says He loves me, He probably doesn’t like me. Christ told the disciples…I no longer call you my servants, but "FRIENDS"
John 15:14-16 "You are my friends if you do what I command you. '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. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.'"
Although they weren’t like Jesus, and they were still sinners, He chose to like them.
Reflection Questions
1. Are you more comfortable praying to God as a Holy, Sovereign, Powerful Being, or as an intimate friend? What has informed your view of how God sees you?
2. When you hear Jesus say to the disciples, “I have called you friends,” how do you think they understood that? How do you imagine the disciples, who walked and lived with Jesus for 3 years, experienced Jesus as friend?
3. Prayer Exercise: Start a prayer as suggested below and take as long as you’d like talking with Jesus who likes you and calls you friend. “Good morning Jesus! You are a great friend, thanks for always wanting to hang out with me…”
