BLOG 11 - "I HAVE CALLED YOU FRIENDS."

Dear accepted in the beloved,

The verse laid upon my heart this morning with Jesus was John 15:15, where Jesus said to His disciples: "I have called you friends." This is said in the context of the verses on abiding in Christ as the vine and the branches, bearing fruit and the new commandment of loving one another. The Lord has been impressing on me that this fruit is not converts, but the fruit of the Holy Spirit which is "love, joy, peace..." etc, the deep changes that cause the body of Christ to be in communion with one another and thus a picture of God's love to the world.

Love is the greatest thing. Scripture tells us in seven places: To love the brethren fulfills the law. This is the proof to the watching world that Christ indwells my heart.
Friendship is our first ministry.

This is the peace that the world does not know, not just internal, but communal peace between believers that still have the offensiveness of their sin natures, but through the grace of God choose to cover it over.

This is a love that overcomes evil with good, confounds unbelievers and turns enemies into friends. This love enabled Jesus to even call Judas His friend, and Jesus would not say that if He did not mean it (Matt. 26:50). Can I call those who have hurt or betrayed me "friend"? I can if I let the mind of Christ be in me. I can if I love them the way He loves me as He has commanded me to. Romans 10:8 says that I "owe" this love to my brother. In fact, God's love is perfected when I love my brother. (1 John 2:5; 4:12,17; John 17:23)

The word "ministry" in scripture is always used to apply to the body of believers, never to the rebellious or evil doers of the world.

As a body, we are to seek out those who want to enter into this family relationship with "Our Father" and bring them into the fold. This means there has to be a "fold" to bring them into. A place to be edified, encouraged, valued...; a place to belong!!! It is not a building, an institution or an organization, but a spiritual family relationship that includes all the true brothers and sisters of Christ without partiality or favoritism. Only the Holy Spirit can accomplish this. This is how we know where the Spirit of God is. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is LOVE."

When I am cold or ignore my brother, the Bible says it is a hypocrisy against the truth of the gospel and that the love of God does not abide in me. (Gal. 2:11-14; 1 John 3:17) Thank you Jesus for the grace that covers the millions of times I have been guilty of this. May the Lord cause me to see and respond to the needs of my brothers and sisters around me. Especially to those who may have been hurt or feel rejected by my actions. This is a serious misrepresentation of God. Their cries against me bring shame on the name of Christ. Lack of love among Christians is the greatest stumbling block for the majority of unbelievers and I contribute to it every time I speak in anger or unkindly and every time I ignore a brother or sister in need. Loving one another is the single most important thing we can do to keep souls out of hell.