Friend with God.

In John 16:14, Jesus says that you are my friends if you do whatever I command you.  Recently, I started a study in the Book of Romans at the church I pastor and one of the things of Romans is the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  Jesus states to be a friend of God you must be willing to submit to the authority of Jesus Christ.  Jesus had in the previous verses talked about loving one another as an expression of our love for Him.  The commandment Jesus was giving here was to walk in love.  We are true friends of Jesus Christ when we love one another as He has commanded us.  That expression of love happens when we are willing to lay down our lives for one another.  Love is not love until it has been shown in some tangible way.  Love is action.  James the brother of Jesus said that when you submit to God, you can resist the devil and he will flee from you.  The devil hates when someone walks in true unselfish love.  Jesus demonstrated true love when He gave His life for mankind on the cross.  Jesus literally laid down His life for us.  He showed us the path of love and so in like manner we are to love one another.  This is one commandment He has left for us to follow.  He says if we love one another we truly are His friends.  So today follow His command by going and expressing in a tangible way your love for Him and others.  It will beautifully illustrate God's Lordship in your life and it will change those you come into contact with.