FRIENDS VERSUS SERVANTS

"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you" (John 15:14-15).

Devotion 13 of 13

CONCLUSION

In Christ you have been elevated above the status of a mere vassal. You serve the Lord, but you do so willingly, and within the framework of His favor. In salvation, you not only prefer the Lord, He also prefers you--and that without being a respecter of persons. In Christ, the Scriptures are brought to the fulfillment. "The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing" (Zeph 3:17). And again, " . . . for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye" (Zech 2:8). And again, "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings" (Psa 17:8). The closeness between Jesus and His people can be seen in these words: "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me" (Matt 25:40).

If you love Him, know that He first loved you. "We love Him, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). If you have chosen Him, know that He chose you first. Jesus said to His disciples, "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you" (John 15:16). If you imagine that was confined to the Apostles, hear the Word of the Lord again. "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" (Eph 1:4). Again, it is written, "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (2 Thess 2:13).

All of this is involved in being Christ's friends. Jesus said we are His friends if we do His will (John 15:14). He did not say we WOULD be His friends if we did His will, but that we ARE His friends if we do His will. That means doing His will is EVIDENCE of friendship, not the cause of it. "DOING" is to friendship with Jesus what the fruit is to the tree. It springs from identity with Deity.

You have been informed of the determined purpose of your Master, and have been made an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ. You are not under a system of law because you are under grace. Because of this, sin does not have dominion over you. As it is written, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Rom 6:14). Availing yourself of the leading of the Spirit, you will not be bludgeoned by the condemnation of the Law. "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law" (Gal 5:18). What a marvelous status is held by Christ's "friends."

Jesus has freed you from the tyranny of condemnation by giving you a heart that is in perfect accord with His holy Law. This is has been done in fulfillment of His promise. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh" (Ezek 36:26). How wonderfully you have been blessed in Christ!

While it may appear to be a technical point, it is vital that you grasp this. You must not read the Word of God primarily to find out what you should do, but what God IS doing. In the light of that understanding, what you must do not only becomes apparent, it ceases to be grievous and burdensome. Scripture is not a manual of conduct, although Divine directives are there, and are to be obeyed. The Lord wants to share His purpose with you. He wants you to be a part of it. That is why Christ came, offered Himself, and returned to make intercession for you. Spiritual maturity will move you from living like a slave to enjoying the benefits of sonship. It will also make you more perfect in obedience. You will be more willing, more strong, and more joyful. It is worth the investment to grow up into Him in all things. It is to your eternal jeopardy not to do so.

PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You through Jesus for making me Your friend. I covet to be among those who are close to Your heart.

-- Tomorrow: New series, SEEKING BETTER THINGS --