Jesus wants to be our best friend !

"Love one another, as I have loved you. There is no greater love than to give one's life for one's friends, and you are my friends if you do what I command you." John 15: 12-14

Abraham Lincoln, the great president of the United States, received daily countless petitions from soldiers who had broken the discipline in one way or another. Each petition was accompanied by letters from more or less influential people. One day he received a petition without any letter of recommendation.

"Then," said Lincoln, "this man would have no influential friends ?

- It seems not, Mr. President.

- Well ! I want to be his friend.

A generous reply, which earned the author of this last petition the presidential grace !

Jesus came to become the friend of all the lonely, the excluded, the sick, the victims of rejection. He wants to be also the friend of each one of us, however deplorable our past, our sense of unworthiness or the circumstances we are going through. But this friendship calls for reciprocity. Let us love him in our turn, let us obey what he commands us. Let us also love those he loves, his command !

A prayer for today

Lord, lead me to love those who are rejected, as you love them. I want to meet them to tell them about you so they can know you love them and want to be their best friend. Whoever understands them, who helps them to walk in this earthly life, and who has a plan from all eternity for each one of them !

Jean-Louis Gaillard

Source (The Thought of the Day)