Let’s face it – 2020 has been a strange year.
But God was not surprised by all the events that have happened.

Would you join me in a four-week countdown to Thanksgiving?
When we stop for a moment, we realize we have much to be thankful for.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

(Proverbs 17:17, English Standard Version)

I am thanking the Lord today for friends and family.

They see us as we are, and yet, they still love us and help us and want to be around us, even when we have tough days.

And we see them as they are, and still love them and hang out with them and help them in good times and bad.

And it’s in the tough days that our true family and friends show up. As the old saying goes, friends and family multiply our joys and divide our sorrows.

We don’t have to carry the burden of living and life alone. God designed us to live in community. He knew we need Him, and we need each other.

Jesus is such a friend that shows up and sticks with us through good times and bad. That may sound trite or trivial to say the God Himself could be our friend. After all, He has the entire universe to run and hold together – how (and why) would He make time for us?

But yet, He does. In fact, Jesus said, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
(John 15:15 ESV)

In fact, Jesus does not stop there. John tells us that as followers of Jesus, He adopts us into His family and we become sons and daughters of God (1 John 3:1-2).

We are not just God’s friends; we are family.

It doesn’t get any better than that.

Here’s another paraphrase that may be an encouragement to you:

A dear friend will love you no matter what, and a family sticks together through all kinds of trouble.

(Proverbs 17:17, The Passion Translation)

Lord, thank You for earthly friends and family – they are a joy and a blessing along life’s path.

And even more so, we are humbled and in awe of being adopted into Your family and being called sons and daughters of the living God!

Lord, thank You for not just a title and relationship with You, but also the promise of an inheritance, of eternal life with You.

Thank You, Lord, for seeking us and pursuing us as Your friends, even when we were Your enemies and were running away from You.

And thank You, Jesus, for not just loving us, but wanting to spend time with us because You like us and enjoy being with us.

May others know Your incredible love for us, and for them, and be drawn to You, that they may choose to accept Your invitation to become Your children, and become part of Your family.

Amen.

Learning the reality of what it means to be a child in God’s family,
~kevin