Posted September 16th, 2004
This song is a sweet reminder of Jesus' tender friendship towards us. Friendship with God is an unfathomable privilege - one that was not always available to all of God's people in their earthly life. With the Psalmist (Psalm 8), we can marvel at that fact that God cares for us at all, let alone calling us His friends: "What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!" Jesus is a friend who can never fail or forsake us, a friend "stronger than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). There is no better place to run in times of assault, temptation, sorrow, or burden, than into the arms of our loving Shepherd. The truth that Jesus has granted us forgiveness shines boundless joy even in our darkest times. May we be comforted by Jesus' friendship!
Continue reading...
Posted August 7th, 2004
What a gloious truth - that we have been called the "friend of God!" (James 2:23) Even more specifically, because Jesus became a man, he is able to understand our weakness for He himself both experienced the results of sin (though not His own) and bore our sins in His body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). In this song we remember the truth that Jesus is our "friend" despite our lovelessness. Hebrews goes on to tell us: "We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16). Because of what Jesus has done, and all that he suffered - taking on frail flesh and dying, giving up his heavenly throne for a time, and knowing no earthly comforts - we can find fullness of joy praising His name!
Continue reading...
Posted July 11th, 2003
"What a friend" is a powerful song about the nature of our friendship with the Lord Jesus Christ. His friendship is truly love beyond a brother's - costly yet free, lasting unconditionally forever. It is this friendship that we desire to soften our hearts - to make us more loving. How quickly we forget our status in Christ - that we, like Abraham (James 2:23), are considered friends of God!
Continue reading...
