Your Best Friend

It is Sunday morning, 12th December, the year 2021, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

Proverbs 18:24 says there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. And then John 15:13:

“Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”

I read a beautiful little quotation by a man by the name of Raymond Berron and this is what it says:

"A friend is someone with whom you dare to be yourself." Isn’t that right?

How are you feeling today, are you feeling lonely? Do you feel that you don’t have any friends? Well, yesterday, a group of us went to an old age home. Most of their children went with us to sing Christmas Carols and to hand out jars of beautifully homemade biscuits, made by some very dear ladies. You should have seen their faces light up! You know, there are so many lonely people in this world today, aren’t there? Loved ones are in lockdown, they can’t get to each other, airline flights have been suspended, people mourning the loss of loved ones... lonely folk in hospital. Remember, if you want friends, then you have to be friendly.

I remember when I first left school, I was working in a tyre factory. It was a tough job. It was hot, it was dirty and that is where I was working. I remember an old Jewish man used to come in and he owned a fleet of old trucks. He painted them all silver. He was running them on a shoestring, very cheaply. He painted them all silver, not with a spray paint gun but with a paintbrush. Ja, that was him! But this dear old man, he was the dearest old chap. He would come in often to the factory on a very hot day with a large coolbox full of ice cream, that’s the truth and ice cream cones. And he would give each one of us refreshing ice cream. He was a real friend - Needless to say, he got the best service!

I want to say to you today that forty years ago, just over forty years ago, I met my best friend and you need to know Him too, especially at this Christmas time. You know, this friend is never too busy to talk to you. He is always waiting and you know, when I mess up, He's still my friend. And do you know something else - He knows me better than I know myself because He made me.

Over this Christmas period get to know Him better. Do remember that beautiful song - I am going to sing it and I want you to sing it with me... What a Friend we have in Jesus:

And what a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
And what a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Jesus bless you today as you spend time with your best friend.
God bless you and goodbye.