"I
no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's
business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned
from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:15 NIV).
The
hymn "I have found a friend in Jesus" also known as "The Lily of
the Valley" is one of my favourite hymns. Little is known about the
history of the hymn apart from the fact that it was composed by William Charles
Fry (1837–1882) in Lincoln, England, while working with the Salvation Army. Fry
declared that he had found a friend in Jesus because He is everything to him.
He compared Jesus to the lily of the valley, the "Beloved" in the
Song of Songs' love characters (Song of Songs 2:1). Undoubtedly, this lily of
the valley symbolizes the sweetness, purity, fruitfulness, humility, and
healing qualities of Jesus Christ. Fry could see only in Jesus all he needed to
be cleansed and be made fully whole. He declared that Jesus was his comfort in
sorrow and in trouble because Jesus has told him to roll every care on Him for
He cares. Jesus is indeed "the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning
Star, He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul."
Apart
from William Charles Fry's declaration in that hymn, Jesus Christ Himself chose
everyone who accepts Him as friend and He did not only promise to do many
things for His friends, He did lay down His life as a ransom for His friends
(see John 15:13; Ephesians 5:2; Romans 5:6-8; 1 Timothy 2:6). As a friend of
Jesus, anyone who accepts Him as his Saviour and Lord will learn many things
from Him (John 15:15), in fact, Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, will reveal
many mysteries to him (Ephesians 1:9; 3:5; Colossians 1:26). Such a friend will
have direct access to the throne of grace to approach God without any
intermediary except Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16; 8:6; 9:15; 12:24; 1 John
2:1). In fact, He "...is a friend who sticks closer than a brother"
(Proverbs 18:24 NIV).
Fry
continued in his hymn to testify more about this great Friend who has taken his
grief, borne all his sorrows, and has become his strong and mighty tower in
temptation. He declared that though all the world forsakes him, and Satan
painfully tempts him, he would safely reach the heavenly goal through Jesus.
Therefore, he forsook all from his heart for Him. He also testified that Jesus
will never, never leave him, nor yet forsake him here, that as he lived by
faith and did the will of Jesus, Jesus would be a wall of fire around him. So,
he would have nothing to fear, for from Jesus' manna He shall fill his hungry
soul. Indeed, he found a great Friend in Jesus!
Have
you found such a Friend in Jesus Christ? Can you confess like William Charles
Fry that Jesus Christ is everything to you? Invite Him into your life today and
allow Him to take total control of your life. You will really enjoy Him!
In
His service,
Bayo
Afolaranmi (Pastor)
I’ve found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me
- I’ve found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Apple-tree of trees, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay,
He tells me every care on Him to roll:
He’s the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul. - He all my griefs has taken, and all my sorrows borne;
In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tower;
I’ve all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
From my heart, and now He keeps me by His power.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal:
He’s the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul. - He’ll never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll:
He’s the Apple-tree of trees, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
Daily Smile:
Judge: Haven’t I seen you before?
Man: Yes, Your Honor. I taught your daughter how to play the drums.
Judge: Twenty years!
In The News:
British Christians Await Top Court Ruling on Wearing a Cross at Work
Europe's highest court next week will hand down rulings in the cases of four British Christians who claim to have been discriminated against in the workplace because of their religious beliefs, CNSNews.com reports. Two of the applicants, Nadia Eweida and Shirley Chaplin, said their rights were violated when employers forbade them from wearing crosses visibly at work. A third, Lillian Ladele, a local government marriage registrar, objected to conducting civil partnership ceremonies for same-sex couples after the law changed in 2005 to allow them and said she was disciplined and ultimately forced to resign after refusing to do so. And Gary McFarlane, a counselor, was fired over a dispute about providing counseling to same-sex couples. All four had their cases rejected by employment tribunals, and in submitting their cases to the European Court of Human Rights, they claimed that domestic law in Britain had failed to adequately protect their religious rights. The ECHR will hand down its rulings in the four cases on Tuesday, Jan. 15.
Philadelphia High Schools Get Condom Dispensers
Condoms have been distributed at some Philadelphia high schools for years, but now they're available in more schools as a result of a partnership between the city and the school district, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Over Christmas break, condom dispensers were installed at 11 high schools that either have a high rate of sexually transmitted diseases or an existing "health resource center" that provides sexual education to students. Parents can sign forms opting their students out of the free condom program, though it appears that staff won't be checking to make sure parents are OK with their students obtaining condoms. City officials say the condom program is part of a strategy to combat both high STD rates among teens and an alarming rise of HIV infection among teens. However, the National Abstinence Education Association has grave concerns. According to NAEA president Valerie Huber, the sex-ed priorities of Philadelphia public schools undermine parental rights and compromise the optimal sexual health of its students. "Teens deserve better," Huber said, "and we hope that parents in Philadelphia schools demand a change in current policies."
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