by John Doyle
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves…but I have called you FRIENDS, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit… ”
John 15:13-16
Joseph Scriven faced real tragedies. Born in Ireland in 1819, as a young man he fell in love. But, tragically, on the night before he was to be married, his fiancée drowned.
Later, after moving to Canada, Scriven fell in love again and became engaged. But his second fiancée also died before they were married.
We cannot imagine how these painful experiences might have made him bitter. But Scriven decided to become devoted to serving others and sharing the Love of Jesus. He gave freely of his possessions and he always was ready to help those who were in need.
In 1855, when he learned that his mother was ill, Scriven wrote a poem for her called, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” This later became a powerful hymn that many of us still sing today. Scriven in the song described what Jesus meant to him: “What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!”
Because of the difficult experiences he had faced, he wrote with conviction, “What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!” He knew that God could bring peace to troubled hearts who seek Him: “O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”
In these difficult times of Covid19 and Lockdown Instead of becoming discouraged when we face trials, and troubles, lets take the words written and simply “take it to the Lord in prayer.”
Am sure like Barbara and I you have some wonderful Family and friends that the Lord has placed into your life over many years and you are thankful for them especially when you went through those difficult times of trials and troubles that we have all gone through. A Godly Friend is a Friend for life and for all eternity.
Lets always remember that Jesus is your Friend for life and because “He layed down His life for us” He will never “leave you or forsake you” or give up on you unlike some friends and family that may have done that to you in your life. Take your problems to Him. Talk with Him. Spend time with Him. He loves you and has such a desire for you to walk with Him through these tough times and display to the World that you have a Friend called Jesus that has “appointed you to go and bear fruit” v16
Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, 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
