In His Name
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. – John 15:15.
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” – Matthew 25:34-36.
For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. – Mark 9:41.
In 1998, we visited Capitola, California where I preached one Sunday at a church there. While there, we were encouraged to visit Santa Cruz just north of Capitola, and to visit the campus of the University of California at Santa Cruz. From the campus of UC at Santa Cruz, there is beautiful view, and we did enjoy it. However, getting there was another story.
The traffic is horrendous for someone not used to much traffic and having never driven in that area before. I am not sure how I managed to do it, even now, but I broke three or four traffic laws in the space of about five seconds. Even though the traffic had been terrible, there was not a car around in any direction, when I managed to become a mass traffic law violator. However, there was a California Highway Patrol Motorcycle Officer present, and watching.
The Officer did immediately stop us, and his first statement after looking at my license was “you must be either confused or lost.” I immediately confessed that I was lost and was trying to find the University. He paused for a moment, and said, “My very best friend in the whole world is from Oklahoma.” He warned me about being more cautious driving, and about what the fines for my violations would have cost, and then sent us on our way without even a warning ticket. Because he said, “My very best friend in the whole world is from Oklahoma.”
I wish I knew the officer’s name so I could thank him again, but maybe he will read this devotional sometime. I have been thinking about this incident for several years and knew that there was a message from God in it somewhere (In addition, to being more careful driving, which it has surely caused me to be.). It finally came to me yesterday.
If we know Jesus as our Savior, we are His friends, and He in reality is our very best friend of all. Every good and positive thing that we do here on Earth, should be done in the Name of our very best friend, Jesus. So, the next time you do that good deed, you might mention that your very best friend in the whole world, is the reason for your actions. And, be sure to tell them the Name of your friend.
(If you know Jesus as our Savior, He is your friend, and is your very best friend of all.)