Jesus the Advocate and Friend/Rashea@LLO2 Academy
Moses was a friend of God. Exodus 33 says God spoke with Moses as a friend. The Lord would personally make time to spend with His friend Moses.
The Bible says, the Lord would cover Himself in a pillar of a cloud and stand by the entrance of the dwelling of Moses and fellowship with Him a while. Joshua happened to be there during one of the Lord's and Moses' meetings and could not dismiss himself from the presence of God, because the glory of God's presence consumed his humanity.
I believe it was that very encounter that activated Joshua 1. "Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. Take heart. I am with you."
True friendship with Jesus is knowing He is there. Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." And He meant it.
Jesus is constant in His companionship to us and with us. The Bible, also, says, "He is the Friend that sticks closer than a brother." TRUTH! I have personally experienced this kind of closeness from Jesus.
Jesus is a true Friend. Yes, He will hold us accountable for our thoughts, words and actions. He will even break us down, but He only breaks us down to build us back up again. He, also, holds us accountable so that we can become better people and stewards of the life that He has given us.
Jesus the Friend is close to us always. He is Comfort, but He is, also, the Wall that keeps us from going over the edge. He is kind, but He will always remind us never to take His kindness for weakness or for granted.
Jesus is a Defender. He will fight for you, but He will, also, lead us away from a fight into peace and protection from evil. Sometimes, leading us away from a fight is His protection while the battle rages on.
We see this many of times in the New Testament where Jesus and His disciples would slip through the crowds when the Pharisees and Scribes were looking for a fight. Jesus would see them coming and say, "I ain't got time,"🤣and go the other way. Sometimes, walking away from a fight is WINNING! Pick and choose your battles as God leads.
Then there were times where Jesus stood His ground and stood up and spoke up, showing unwavering resilience in the face of opposition. In these moments, Jesus was standing for His friends, their freedoms and the Kingdom of God. Sometimes, you have to lead the battle and say, "NOPE. Not today Satan." I mean that.✊🏾💯
But I LOVE that after walking with Jesus for some time, Jesus said to His disciples, "I no longer call you My disciples, but My friends." Uh... knock out blanket.🙌🏾🙏🏾💕.
Jesus said, "We are pass the intermediate stages of fellowship. You are my friends, because you know me, and I know you." The trust was there. The closeness was organic.
Jesus knew their families personally, and His disciples knew His family personally. They went EVERYWHERE with Jesus. I mean everywhere.😂🤣. But they weren't just hanging out, through their closeness and many endeavors together Jesus was mending them and molding them to carry on His work after His departure back to heaven.
Note: Friendship should always be connected to purpose. If there is no mutual purpose then there is no true friendship.👀
And as we walk closely with Jesus through prayer, studying the Word of God and spending time in His presence... He is doing the same with us. No one who encounters the presence of Jesus remains unchanged. It is impossible. His friendship and closeness to us changes us from the inside out.
We are now longer just disciples of Jesus, we are friends of Jesus, as we nurture our relationship with Him. Uh. Knock out blanket.🙌🏾🙏🏾💕😂🤣. I am so serious.
I LOVE knowing Jesus as my personal Friend. The day Jesus told me I was His friend, I just cried like a baby. What amazing love and kindness.
Jesus is real, y'all. And His closeness is real. And His friendship is very real.
I stand in awe of Jesus my Friend.🙌🏾🙏🏾💕. Amen. LOVE HIM SO MUCH!🥰
I DO. I REALLY DO. Jesus my Friend.🙏🏾🙌🏾💕
Rashea@LLO2
