One maxim of the former coach of the record-setting UCLA basketball team  John Wooden is: “The time to make friends is before you need them.” He says so in his book “Wooden A lifetime of observations and reflections  on and off the court.” Page 198 under the heading “My favorite Maxims”.

That is a really good exhortation. I like that maxim very much! Follow it!

Who are our friends?

Abraham in the Bible, the Word of the Living God was called a friend of God. He had the living God as his friend. You can read that in the Old Testament (Genesis 15:6) and in the New Testament. (James 2:23) What a privilege it is to be “called God’s friend”.

And what does the Lord Jesus Christ say about Lazarus? “Our friend Lazarus…..” You can read that in the Gospel of John, John 11:11. It’s easy to remember.

We can also be the friends of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am always amazed at the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ calls me his friend. But he does. John 15:14 says so. Read it for yourself.  “You are my friends if you do what I command.” He is not calling us any longer servants, but friends. Imagine that.

The Lord loved us so much, that He lay down his life for us. John 15:13.  I believe that he died  for my sins on cross and I want to do what He commands.

I am his friend! What about you?

Remember the maxim “Time to make friends is before you need them”. One of these days you will need the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe me that you do, please.

A long time ago in Germany I went to big evangelistic meetings by The Janz Team. One of the messages of the evangelist Leo Janz was “Savior or Judge”. (Heiland oder Richter)

If  the Lord Jesus Christ is not your Savior – Acts 10:43* –  (friend) he is you judge – Acts 10:42.**

*Acts 10:43

“All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

**Acts 10:42

“He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.”

I am looking for a verse in the Bible which says that we should run from Satan.

Can anybody help me?

Today the book with the title “Are you really born again?” by Kent Philpott came again to my mind. The book has been on one of our book-shelves for a long time, but I have never read it. Today I looked through it.

“Are you really born again?”

John 3:3

Other questions come also to my mind. Here they are:

Matthew 15:13

“He replied, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.'”

That are the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Are you really planted by the heavenly Father of the Lord Jesus Christ?

John 6:44

“‘No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, ….'”

Are you really drawn by the Father?

Ephesians 1:4

“For HE chose us  in him before the creation of the world…”

Are you really chosen in him before the creation of the world?

First Peter 1:1

“To God’s elect, strangers in the world,….”

Are you really elected?

Matthew 7:14

“But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Are you one of the few?

We are hearing and reading so much today.

I WANT TO DO WHAT THE BEREANS DID.

Acts 17:11

“NOW THE BEREANS WERE OF MORE NOBLE CHARACTER THAN THE THESSALONIANS, FOR THEY RECEIVED THE MESSAGE WITH GREAT EAGERNESS AND EXAMINED THE SCRIPTURES EVERY DAY TO SEE IF WHAT PAUL SAID WAS TRUE.”