None of us would want to have
our hearts photographed by J. R. Miller. Having loved his own
who were in the world, he loved them unto the end," John 13 1. A friend is one who loves and
does not cease to love. Christ, having loved his people,
loves them unto the end. One quality of true friendship
is trust. What could be more sacred than
this comfort of feeling safe with a person, absolutely safe? That is the kind of friend Jesus
is. You may always feel safe with
Him. You may confess all your sins
to Him. You may tell Him all your faults
and your failures, how you denied Him the other night, how you
failed to be true to Him, and all the evil thoughts of your
heart, and He will be just as tender and gracious as if you
had never sinned. He loves unto the end. None of
us would want to have our hearts photographed, and the picture
held up before the eyes of our neighbors. We would not want
even our best friends to see a full transcript of our secret
life, what goes on within us, the jealousies, the envyings,
the bitter feelings, the impure thoughts, the meanness, the selfishness,
the suspicions, the doubts and fears. Yet Christ sees all this
unworthy inner life. He knows the worst that is in
us and loves us still. We do not need to hide our weaknesses
from Him. He never withdraws His love.
We may trust Him absolutely and forever. Having loved His own
who were in the world, He loved them unto the end. John 13