Christianity Oasis Forum

by **cimi** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 7:15 pm

January 21
Thursday

*Rapture*

A MUTUAL
FRIEND

READ:
John 15:9-17
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I have called you
friends. __John 15:15
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Imagine being a visitor in a foreign land, showing up unannounced at a gathering of people you have never met and who have never heard of you--and then being allowed to address that group just a few minutes later. That can happen only if something breaks down barriers--something like mutual friends.

It happened when I took a missions team to a church service in Discovery Bay, Jamaica,. Before we left the US, my friend Dorant Brown, a Jamaican pastor recommended a church to attend. So when we arrived at the church, and I mentioned Pastor Brown, we were not only welcomed, but I was also asked to speak briefly and our team was asked to sing.

While sharing Dorant's name was vital, I really don't think it was that mutual friend who got us such a warm welcome. I think it was our shared
Friend and Savior Jesus who opened our Jamaican friends' hearts to our visit.

Have you experienced a connection with someone you just met when you tell them you too know Jesus? He's a friend who laid down His life for us (John. 15:13), and He makes brothers and sisters of all who believed (1 Peter 2:17).

Jesus, Our Savior. Our mutual Friend. He joins hearts around the world under the banner of His love. __Dave Branon
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````````````````Join hands, then, brothers of the faith,`````````````
``````````````````````What'er your race may be;````````````````
````````````````````Who serves my Father as a son```````````````
```````````````````Is surely kin to me. __xenham````````````````
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Those who are drawn to Christ
are drawn to each other.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ John 15:9-17************

9 As the Father loved Me, I
also have loved you; abide
in My love. 10 If you keep
My commandments, you
will abide in My love, just
as I have kept My Father's
commandments and abide
in His love.

11 These things I have
spoken to you, that My joy
may remain in you, and that
your joy may be full. 12 This
is My commandment, that
you love one another as I
have loved you. 13 Greater
love has no one than this,
than to lay down one's life
for his friends. 14 You are
My friends if you do
whatever I command you.

15 No longer do I call you
servants, for a servant does
not know what his master is
doing; but I have called you
friends, for all things that I
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
remain, that whatever you
ask the Father in My name
He may give you. 17 These
things I command you, that
you love one another.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Jesus used the words servants and friends to contrast the new level
of intimacy that believers have with him (v.15). A true friend is one
who is as your "own soul" (Deut. 13:6; 1 Sam. 18:1; 20:17). God
referred to Abraham as His friend 2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8; James
2:23) and revealed His plans to him (Gen. 18:17). God spoke to
Moses "as a man speaks to his friend" (Ex. 33:11). Because we are
Christ's friends (John 15:15), He speaks to us through His Word.
__SIM KAY TEE