THE BEST OF ALL FRIENDS

"....Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead...". John 11:11, 14

Two friends went out on a long journey through a thick forest. They felt a bit nervous but they promised to stand by each other and share the same fate. They had not gone far when a wild bear came out from among the trees. One of the friends in great fear climbed up the nearest tree, without caring to think what would happen to the other man. The other man, on his part, fell flat on the ground and held in his breath, pretending to be dead. As he lay thus, the bear came up to him and smelt him all over his body. Finding the man stiff in all his limbs, the bear took him to be dead and walked away. When the bear was gone, the man on the tree came down. He greeted his friend, saying – “Thank God that you are saved. My friend, I saw the bear put its mouth very close to your ear. Did it say anything to you?” The friend replied, “Yes, it warned me against a friend who left me in danger to seek his own safety”.

"One who has unreliable friends soon, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" - Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)

Beloved, in good times, everybody behaves as if they are our friend. But when things are not going on as expected or when we are surrounded  by wild bears of life, they often take to their heels. Only a true friend sticks to us in difficult times. So, do you have a true friend?  Jesus Christ is the best of all friends. He did not abandon Lazarus his friend when the wild bear of sickness and premature death swallowed him. Rather, Jesus chose to visit his friend - Lazarus at such a difficult season of his life.(John 11:11)

Friends, are you passing through a thick forest in life today? Has the wild bear of sickness, failure, loneliness, depression,  poverty, joblessness, barrenness swallowed you up? Has the bear of cancer or fibroid eaten you up? Is your "Lazarus" now dead and buried? Then, you need a true friend. Jesus Christ is the true friend that you need. If you become His friend today, He will visit you as he visited His friend- Lazarus. Yes, He will invade your house/business/marriage/health with His resurrection power and those dead cases/situations will jump back to life. As the Lord lives, all your "Lazarus" shall rise up from the grave before this week is over in Jesus name, Amen.

"I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me" - John 15:15 (NLT)

"What a friend we have in Jesus" the title of a powerful hymn that reaffirms the fact that Jesus is the best of all friends that everyone needs. Could you please meditate on the lyrics of this hymn and trust Jesus to intervene in those difficult matters that had made your friends turned their backs on you.  

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS by Joseph M Scriven (1855)

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged—

Take it to the Lord in prayer. 

Can we find a friend so faithful,

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

It is my prayer that everyone abandoned in the thick forest of life by friends/companions/relatives/colleagues/business associates shall make Jesus Christ their best friend from today. And the great burden bearer, way-maker, ever-present help in times of trouble will honour them with "Lazarus kind of miracles" even before this month is over in Jesus name, Amen.

Good day and God bless you. 

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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