Jesus, Our Friend

When Jesus came into the world in human form, He changed our relationship with God forever. He made it possible for us to become adopted sons and daughters in God's family, co-heirs with Him to the gift of eternal life with the Father.

But He gave us another gift few of us ever open: His friendship.

He experienced firsthand the loneliness of being human, and He saw that as much as we need a savior, we also need a friend.

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15 (NIV)

What better friend could you have? Jesus is steadfastly loyal.

He forgives your every fault.

He supports and encourages you when you need it most, and He listens whenever you want to talk. He is a tireless listener.

Jesus loves you as a friend who wants to see you grow to your full potential.

There is no jealousy in Him. He wants only the best for you.

Enter more deeply into friendship with Jesus this year.

You can trust Him. If you reach out and accept the friendship He offers, your life will never be the same.

Like Jesus

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." - John 1:14.

Whether they are traveling through a small farming town in Nebraska, a surfing village in California or an industrial community in Pennsylvania, politicians love to show how they can relate to the people in that area.

But the sad thing is that they can't really meet those people on the same level. They can't identify with them no matter how hard they try to make it appear like they can.

Jesus, though, never gives us that illusion of identity.

He doesn't throw up a facade to try and appear like He gets where we are coming from.

Jesus Christ connected with the people of two thousand years ago, and He connects with you and me today on a level that we can understand and appreciate.

At one point, we've all said, "No one understands my situation." But that statement could not be farther from the truth.

Jesus understands. He's been there.

He knows what we go through day in and day out. He had a job--for most of His life, He was a carpenter.

He had the same relationships that you and I have today--mother, father, brothers, sister, friends, and enemies.

He even faced the same temptations that you and I face.

Jesus knows what daily living is like. He knows because He's been there Himself.

So this week, when you feel like there is no one that can grasp what you are going through; when you feel like throwing up your hands and giving up; when you have that gut reaction of, "No one understands my situation...", remember that our Savior has been there.

Then add two words to your statement: "like Jesus."

"No one understands my situation like Jesus."

Eliminating Debt

Tap! Tap! Tap!

All of sudden, the once rowdy group came to order. The crowd's chatter died down. It was time to start the show. The maestro had arrived and the concert was to begin.

There's just something about the presence of a maestro. His presence brings order out of chaos. It signifies the beginning of a wonderful musical masterpiece.

The atmosphere becomes reverent when he shows up. He demands respect that is comparable to that of a king's coronation.

Jesus is no different. He has the ability to make order out of chaos and to qualm all fears. He also has the uncanny ability to eliminate doubt in our lives.

How does this happen? It happens when we follow orchestral protocol. The word 'maestro' is Italian in origin and means 'master or teacher.'

Jesus is often referred to in scripture as master or teacher. He, in essence, is the Great Maestro in our lives, tapping on the strings of our hearts to bring to order the chaos in our lives.

One of the amazing things about a maestro is his ability to maintain eye contact with his ensemble. Eye contact represents attentiveness.

Any good date, interview, or business interaction is characterized by great eye contact throughout. Christ is attentive to every one of our needs; so much so that he will supply each and every one of them (Philippians 4:19).

However, our own doubt causes us to lose eye contact with our Great Maestro. Peter was well aware of this fact. In Matthew's Gospel he found himself walking on water (See Matthew 14:28-31). However, his inability to maintain eye contact caused him to doubt the very thing that Jesus already told him that he could do.

Eye contact with Jesus was so key when Peter walked on the Sea of Galilee that when it was lost, Peter began to sink.

Many times we can get bogged down in the waves of life and forget about the necessity of eye contact. How am I going to pay this bill? Splish. Will I ever get married? Splash. When can I start a job in the field in which I really want to work? Splash.

Ask any tight rope walker and they will tell you: the key to reaching your destination is found in your ability to keep your eye on the goal. Don't look down. The apostle Paul said it best: We are called to "press toward [our] goals...
(Philippians 3:14).

Maintaining eye contact with Jesus is important when trying to eliminate doubt. Even the best musician in an orchestra can wind up being a failure if he misses his cue from the maestro. Without that visual cue, the orchestra member begins to doubt his/her role in the composition.

Where are your eyes?

Where is your focus?

Are you beginning to doubt your role in God's great composition?

I want to encourage you to refocus on the One who wrote the piece and knows your role better than anyone else. It is then, and only then, that you can begin to eliminate doubt in your life and live the life that God has called you to live.

You play an important role in God's work.

Without you, the harmony is slightly off.

Without you, the composition is incomplete.

Stay focused, give the Maestro your undivided attention, and watch the masterpiece unfold before your eyes