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| Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson |
Dear friends & readers:
I'm an avid fan of Calvin & Hobbes, and I found this piece humorous (that is if you understand Calvin's character, his statement is ironic; in that, he's the jerk.)
Which ties back to me. Recently, I've been desiring more close friends. More Bff's (if you would.)
Selfish: I want more friends. More friends who would understand me. More friends who would stay with me until the end. More friends who would stick up with me and support me. More friends who would reach out to me. More friends who would encourage me. More friends who would pray for me. More friends who would love me. More un-jerkish friends.
However, the irony is, I'm the biggest jerk. I'm the biggest jerk who fails to understand my friends. The biggest jerk who fails to stay with them until the end. The biggest jerk who fails to stick up or support them. The biggest jerk who fails to encourage them. The biggest jerk who fails to pray for them. The biggest jerk who fails to love them. The biggest jerk who fails to represent Christ-likeness.
Through and through, I would consider my own needs far more than my neighbors' needs. Passive-aggressively attack them. Unwisely talk behind their back. Always expecting a good deed in return. Judge them directly and indirectly. Lie to them. Consider their sins far more disastrous than my own wretched sins. Put up a false image of myself. Veil my brokenness and weaknesses - dare not reveal it to them.
I have failed as a friend. I still fail and cannot expect myself to be a good friend.
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Thankfully, the purpose of this message is not just point out my weaknesses but far more importantly, point to the greatest undeniable true friend, Jesus.
Far more than being a jerk to my friends and neighbors, I am the biggest jerk to Jesus - constantly sinning and finding my idols more attractive. Not just me: His community were jerks. His friends were jerks. His beloved disciples were jerks. Everyone were jerks. (Mark 6:4; John 15:18; John 8:59; Mark 14:50)
Despite being surrounded by jerks, Jesus fails not to be a dear friend to us.
Jesus considers us brothers. Matthew 12:46 - 50
Jesus calls us friends. John 15:14 - 15
Jesus loves us.
Unselfish: Jesus understood his friends. Jesus stayed with them through and through. Jesus stood up for them and supported them. Jesus reached out to them. Jesus encouraged them. Jesus prayed for them. Jesus loved them. Jesus died for them. Jesus, the truest best friend in whom we can completely trust and rely on.
Because even if we are jerks, Jesus still considers us in love.
"... There they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'"
- Luke 23:33 - 34
In order to be a good friend, the only thing and best solution is to model Christ. Model Christ in deeds, in speech, in thoughts, in encouragements, in hurting, in love, in prayer, in everything.
I pray I can be a Christ-like friend to everyone; even if they can be jerks to me.
--
Joseph
Beneath the cross of Jesus, two wonders I confess: the wonder of his glorious love and my unworthiness.
- Elizabeth C. Clephane 1868