“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” (John 15:15 KJVSD).
“When at the altar we surrender all, when we yield all our powers of body, mind, and soul, to live for Him and to labor for Him, we are no longer at enmity with God. God ‘hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ’ – ‘reconciled by the death of His Son…by whom we have now received the atonement,’ the at-one-ment. 11 Cor. 5:18; Rom. 5:10,11. ‘You that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death.’ Col. 1:21,22. Now we are no longer His enemies, but His friends.” PTG 37
“The present is a season of solemn privilege and sacred trust to the servants of God. If these trusts are faithfully kept, great will be the reward of the faithful servant when the Master shall say, ‘Give an account of thy stewardship.’ The earnest toil, the unselfish work, the patient, persevering effort, will be rewarded abundantly; Jesus will say, ‘Henceforth I call you not servants, but friends, guests.’ The approval of the Master is not given because of the greatness of the work performed, because many things have been gained, but because of the fidelity in even a few things. It is not the great results we attain, but the motives from which we act, that weigh with God. He prizes goodness and faithfulness more than the greatness of the work accomplished.” GW 109.2
Dear Heavenly Father, Please bless me to be fully surrendered to You and do whatsoever You command me. Like Jesus, bless me to do only those things that please You. With a grateful heart and in the precious name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
NOTE: These devotionals began as daily texts to encourage my academy roommate and dear friend of nearly 50 years, until she suddenly passed a few weeks ago (Feb 2023). Now I continue to compile and send them to anyone who wants to receive them and to her family in honor of their mom. First, I pray and look for a Bible verse or passage and find a suitable commentary (or vice versa) and add a prayer. Some days, only a Scripture and prayer are ordered. I might even add a song. If you agree to receive them, then this way I not only honor God but the memory of a very dear friend whom I desperately miss. My personal prayer is that God will bless me to find ways to multiply this gift. So please feel free to forward to your loved ones or to anyone, as God leads you. I’m calling them Barb’s Devotionals.