The confidence of a Friend.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

This picture makes me happy. I took it several years ago while meeting a dear friend for tea and a heart to heart. I’ve been honored to have a handful of such friendships, the kind where you can confide in each other deeply, freely, and know you’ll be heard and held with love and truth. Don’t we all long for such friendships?

It is a precious gift to share such confidences with a friend.

“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  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 15:12-14 New Life Version

Did you catch that? Jesus has confided  . . . in us! He’s given us His Words and let us in on many mysteries of the Father. Friends of GOD! It’s just so amazing, isn’t it? How do we respond to this kind of confidence from God? I know I don’t always treat this confidence with the honor it deserves.

This tea shop in this picture has sadly closed down and this particular friend and I don’t see one another as often as we used to. Though friendships ebb and flow with the seasons of life, our friendship with Jesus is ever there, every moment. His Word, which He has given us in confidence, awaits us to sit with it, maybe even over a cup of tea, and lead us into deep soul sharing with our Best Friend and Savior. He even laid down His life that we might enjoy this great gift of friendship with Him! Oh, that we would take Him up on this precious gift every day of our lives!

Text and Picture Copyright Jennifer Brukiewa