Hand-Picked

Do you hand-pick your friends?  It's tedious and not without risk!  I remember a few people with whom I deliberately and aggressively pursued a friendship, only to later wonder, "What I was thinking!"  Friendships that evolve over a period of time, however, are usually the most valuable. Perhaps it's because they are strengthened by circumstances & situations, shared joy & sorrow.  These friendships weather storms and ride high the celebrations of life.  These are also relationships that instead ... pick and choose us!

Are you a friend of Jesus? If you are a born-again Believer, yes you are! How wonderful to know such a friend, such a relationship.  Isn't it amazing we are hand-picked, chosen by Almighty God to be His friend.  "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you ... You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." (John 15:14,16)  We are chosen by The Father for a relationship with Him.  Won't you do about anything for a good friend!  Well, so it is when we honor our friendship with Christ -- we desire to serve and obey.   Our service and our obedience become evidence of a genuine relationship with Jesus.  Aren't you glad He sees something so valuable in us that God chose us ... hand-picked us to be His friends!