Praising God In John 15 (Mar 11)

I’ve Found A Friend

Backgrounder: James Small was
a minister in the Scottish Free
Church who loved to write hymns.
This hymn published in 1863
in the Revival Hymnbook, is full
of great theological truths. From
our standpoint we sing: I’ve Found
a Friend but the truth is “He loved
me ere I knew Him” and “He
drew me with the cords of love”.
Obviously it is Jesus who initiated
this friendship. Such a Friend
is truly worth singing about.

Lord, we’ll Obey Your Command:
This is My commandment, that
u love one another as I’ve loved u.
There is no greater love than to lay
down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are My friends if you do
what I command… Now you are
My friends, since I have told you
everything the Father told me…
I appointed you that you should go
and bear fruit, and that your fruit
remain, that whatever you ask the
Father in My name He may give you.
These things I command you that
you love one another (Jn 15:12-17).

Lord Jesus, thanks for Your
sacrificial love and for being
our friend. Help us to love one
another, as You have loved us,
even as we purpose to obey
Your challenging commandment.
We note that Your command
for us to love one another is for
the purpose that we bear fruit.
As people see the love between
Christians, let them be drawn to
You, the source of our love. Amen.

Lord, You call us to love one another
though You know our propensity towards selfishness. So, help us
to always remember love is not
optional for those who follow You.
Help us also to abide in Your love;
for it is the key to loving our
brothers and sisters in Christ;
for apart from You, we can
do absolutely nothing. Amen.

I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend!
He loved me ere I knew Him;
He drew me with the cords of love
And thus He bound me to Him.
And round my heart still closely twine
Those ties which naught can sever
For I am His, and He is mine,
Forever and forever.
I’ve found a Friend, O such a Friend
He bled, He died to save me;
And not alone the gift of life,
But His own self He gave me.
From Him who loves me now so well,
What pow’r my soul shall sever?
My heart,my strength, my life,my all
Are His, and His forever. Amen.