Blessings of Knowing Jesus as Friend
Do you know Jesus as friend?
Friend is such a wonderful and endearing term. And we all long for friends because they make our lives richer.
I still keep in touch with friends from high school and college. Also, over the years, the Lord blessed me with new friends.
You see, we moved a lot when my husband and I were in church ministry. So I prayed for at least one friend in every new town.
Early in our marriage, we moved to a small farm town in a new state. Our daughter was only eighteen months old at the time. Gracious ladies from the church brought us dinner for a few nights.
Still, I’ll never forget the Sunday when a young woman approached me after a church service. “Do you need anything?” Her sentiments seemed honest and heartfelt. I politely thanked her and continued with: No, we are fine.
But as I started to walk away, I felt the Lord nudging me to turn back around and tell her I needed a friend. With the Lord helping me to be brave, I walked toward her: I thought of something I need, I really need a friend.
And you know what? We formed a wonderful friendship and kept in touch when my family moved again. It was a God-thing.
Created as Relational Beings
The good Lord created us as relational beings, first with Him, then with others. For that reason, it makes sense to not only understand the importance of friends in our lives, but to also celebrate a friendship with Jesus Himself.
But in order to find a friend in Jesus, we must find Jesus as Savior and Lord. I made the decision at sixteen to give my heart and life to Christ. And I found a wonderful friend in Jesus.
And Scripture has much to say about friendship with the Lord.
Friendship of of the Lord: Jesus as Friend
“The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” Psalm 25:14 (ESV)
“And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’—and he was called a friend of God.” James 2:23 (ESV)
Do you know Jesus as Savior? Friendship with the Lord means we have a holy fear for who He is as mighty King. And we believe and keep His covenant.
Do you know Jesus as Savior? Friendship with the Lord means we have a holy fear for who He is as mighty King. And we believe and keep His covenant. Share on X
A Friend’s Love and Wise Counsel
“A friend loves at all times.” Proverbs 17:17 (ESV)
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)
“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” Proverbs 27:9 (ESV)
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)
Do you know Jesus as friend? Jesus loves us always. Christ sticks closer than a brother. Jesus offers wise counsel out of His mighty Word. We walk and talk with Jesus as friend.
Do you know Jesus as friend? Jesus loves us always. Christ sticks closer than a brother. Jesus offers wise counsel out of His mighty Word. We walk and talk with Jesus as friend. Share on XJesus as Friend: Greater Love
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:12-15 (ESV)
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4 (ESV)
Do you know Jesus as the Lamb of God who laid down His life for you? He calls you friend and longs for relationship with you.
Do you know Jesus as the Lamb of God who laid down His life for you? He calls you friend and longs for relationship with you. Share on XJesus as Friend Prayer:
Lord, give me the desire to grow my friendship with You daily. Help me not to befriend the world’s ways, beliefs, and perspectives, because they are contrary to Your truth and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Featured photos courtesy of Friday’s Forever on YouTube.
Last week’s article, Idolatry Scoots God Out of the Spotlight.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups: Let’s Have Coffee/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth).
© 2025 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
We can have no better friend than Jesus, our Lord. He will never forsake or abandon us, but stick close to us at all times, no matter what we’re going through. I love the story that you shared here, too, Karen, about going back to that lady and telling her that you needed a friend. Beautiful! We would all have more friends if we would take that chance. Blessings!
Thank you, Martha. Always appreciate your thoughts and insight. The Lamb of God laid down His life for us. He calls us friend and longs for relationship with us. God bless!
Your story about forming a friendship with that young woman at church brought back similar memeories of my own, Karen. My husband served as pastor in six churches over 40 years of ministry. There always was that lonesome period after moving, missing old friends and not yet acquainted with new ones. But! Jesus, the best of friends, always drew especially near during those transition times. I also learned important lessons in faith and perseverance, and God ALWAYS supplied a good friend, or two, or more at each church!
Nancy, thanks so much for sharing your experience. Church ministry can be lonely, especially when you first arrive at a new church and place. And I like how you said Jesus is the best of friends. I’m so grateful Jesus sticks closer than a brother. God bless!
As I read your message, I started singing that sweet song, “What A Friend We Have in Jesus”. Amen. 🙂
I thought of the hymn too, Melissa. I feel so blessed to know how great a friend we have found in Him. God bless.
By the grace of God (through Christ) Truth. So Essentially, Poignantly, Pivotally, and Adeptly Real…Yes and Amen.
Thanks for commenting, God bless, Daniel! Thankful to know Jesus as Lord and friend.
I have enjoyed reading about Jesus since subscribing.
Although we attend different churches we are both Christian women and believe Jesus died for our sins!
I also enjoy Fridays Forever which is where I found you!
It might sound silly but I think of you as a friend. 🙂
Have a blessed day and weekend!
I hope this finds you , Mike and Winston well!
Michelle Martini
Hey Michelle, that is sweet to think of me as a friend, and not silly at all. I even like to use the term when I’m writing here at my blog or other places, “Friend…..” Because it’s such an endearing term, I want people to feel like my friend in how I write. We sure appreciate you all watching our videos. Thanks for commenting. God bless.
We were in Gatlinburg last week and I so wanted to bump into you!!!
Awe, maybe we can meet sometime. Let us know anytime you are there.
Thank you for these Scripture-based reminders about friendship with Christ. What a gift! As we think of the Lord as our truest friend, who befriended us, may we cherish Him all the more. There is no one like Him! God bless you!
Melissa, I like how you said Jesus befriended us! True! He loved us first and befriended us first. Hallelujah! God bless!
[…] Blessings of Knowing Jesus as Friend […]
Beautiful Karen. We are so blessed to be able to call Jesus as our friend. He’s the best friend anyone could have. Thanks.
He sure is, Yvonne. We are blessed beyond measure. God bless.
Excellent message!! I’m grateful to call Jesus a true friend. God bless you, Karen!
It’s something to be grateful for, Jessica. “I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15
I’ve been needing a good close friend for a while now. Ever since we left my long-time church of 26 years to attend services closer to home, I haven’t really made quality connections. (It’s been 15+ years so far.) Now, we’re at a church where we feel much better calling our church home and I’m praying for some quality connections with the men there. We have our first off-campus men’s retreat since COVID in less than a week where I’m hoping to get to know some men in a deeper way. But I’m thankful I have Jesus and my wife. I would truly be lost without them.
Hey Stephen, there’s nothing quite like an event, especially a retreat, to connect you with people in a deeper way. Praying you connect with some men at the retreat. I would be lost without Jesus in my life, too. He’s our everything. God bless.
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