"You Are My Friends If You Do What I Command" - Jesus

Everyone wants to have friends! Jesus knows our strong desires within that cause us to want to belong. Look at teenagers for but a moment and you will find that they desperately and strongly want to belong to a group. As adults we are really no different. Jesus made us this way. We were created to have fellowship with Him. One of the ways that we have fellowship with Him is by fellowshipping with other believers. Another way to have friendship with Jesus is by doing what He commands (John 15:14). There are many within the church that are trying to be Jesus' friend without doing His Word. Jesus also said, "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother." Matthew 12:50.
A pointed question, "Do you really do what Jesus commands?" If you do not, you are not truly His friend and are missing out on a whole lot more than just heaven. You are missing out on intimate relations with the holy God of the universe! Do His Word. "You are My friends if you do what I command."
I wonder what percentage of church go-ers are truly doing what Jesus commands. Would you say 20%?

Pastor Noel

How do you determine how many are doing what Jesus commands? How do you or I determine if someone else is following the will of God? Do we judge them by the actions we see?

I believe that you judge a tree by it's fruit, and a Christian by his or her actions. A good tree bears good fruit and a growing disciple bears good behavior. Bad behavior/actions is just a sign of a bad connection to Jesus.

So, we should see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We should see this in how we treat one another, how we speak to one another? This is what God states others should see in us.

That is exactly right. The fruit of the Spirit should be manifested in the life of a Christian. Good belief leads to good action/conduct. If there is not good belief, then it naturally follows that there will not be good actions. Many Christians have a "head knowledge" but not a heart knowledge that practices the truth heard. This is a travesty within the church right now. The clarion call is for Christians to take their stand and be Jesus to everyone, especialy those in their own home!

Thanks for all your posts! Keep them coming!