What are the Qualities of a Friend?

Jesus calls us not as servants, but as friends – John 15:15

AI generated the following list. What are the qualities of a friend?:

Accepting
Dependable
Empathetic
Encouraging
Forgiving
Good listener
Great company
Honest
Kind
Low maintenance
Loving
Loyal
Nonjudgmental
Patient
Peaceful
Respectful
Self-confident
Sense of Humor
Supportive
Trustworthy

Do you agree with this list? Would you remove any? Would you add any?

As I read through the Gospels, the story of Jesus, Jesus has all of these qualities.

These are the qualities we should seek to embody. We will often fail miserably, trying to live them out in our lives; but with friends it becomes far easier.

Jesus shared the following while he was in the upper room, during his last supper. These were not only his instructions, but his promise,

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.” – John 15:12-17

Friendship cannot be forced. Just as Jesus said, “I chose you.”

Question is, “Will you choose to accept Jesus’ friendship and all that comes with it?” Specifically, to obey the command to “Love one another.”

Prior to that Jesus said, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.”

During this Easter Season we will be looking at Friendship. What does it mean to be a friend? What does it mean to be a friend in Christ?

I encourage you to consider the list above. Which qualities do you have? Which qualities are you missing?

One more word of encouragement. If you have been blessed with such a friend, let them know that you thought of them while reading this post.

Last, and most important of all, remember to be a friend of Jesus you are to do what he commands…“Love one another.”