One of my favorite lines from the Netflix hit series ‘Stranger Things’ is when Eleven emphatically says to Mike, “Friends don’t lie.” Of course, even El doesn’t live up to her own standard as later she lies to Mike when she writes to him from California claiming she’s happy and popular when she’s lonely and vulnerable and dearly misses her true friends. El’s only true friends are Mike and the oddball crew in Hawkins, Indiana who become family through the existential mission of saving each other and the world.
Oh, to be a friend. And to have one. And to have an existential mission. Thank God for good friends. Thank God for the example of the Good Father who loves us despite our rebellion. We are so prone to drift. Thank God for the Good Samaritan - a man willing to sacrifice for a person not of his family, tribe, or nation. Yet a man who knows what he has received from Jesus and who freely gives and produces lasting fruit for Jesus. Jesus loves him, he too then loves others. Stranger things!
Men, I may be wrong, but I’d like to tell you a secret. You have to be a friend to have a friend. As Jesus says in this passage true friends share with each other. The truth. Friends don’t lie. You won’t have many true friends in this short life. But as God’s children, we will have true friends if we obey Jesus’ command to love each other. Like El, our true friends may not be our biological family members (but they may be), but rather our born-again, spiritual family members. Our eternal friends are most certainly in the church.
I’ve been hovering over John 15 for a few days now because it’s important, nay, it’s the secret to eternal life. Jesus is the True Vine. The Father is the Gardener. And the Holy Spirit convicts people of sin, shows us God’s righteousness and the truth of the coming judgment (16:8).
God is Good. That is His character. It matters because we can truly trust Him. If you seek God you will find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29). God wants us to look to Him today as our Savior but also as our friend. Trust Him as He wants to reach out His hand with favor to His children. Jesus is the best of friends. He taught His men how to produce lasting fruit and commissioned them to do so. God shares so freely and creatively with us (Ezra 8:22), but with our freedom comes the responsibility to produce. If you are a Christian you have the means of production. Now get your capital into action. Time is short.
Men, we’ve got to gain yards. We’ve got to put pucks in the net. We can only do so as we remain in Jesus. In a growing relationship with God. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. We are His band of misfits - His branches. John 15 teaches God’s deep truth that true disciples produce much fruit. Laziness is not a virtue.
We’ve got to do better as the church. We’ve got to produce more. More what? More widgets? Maybe. More alter calls? It depends. More joy? Yes. Lasting fruit! Yes, indeed.
People who truly trust Jesus and who obey His commandments; that is what we produce. Through our everyday jobs, we produce friends of Jesus. Friends tell the truth and share the ministry of reconciling people to God. Friends fight the otherworldly Demogogan and don’t pretend that the spiritual battle is not real. It is. Joy is the result of obedience and productivity for Christ. As we love and care for others we produce lasting fruit. The stock market may not show our ticker, but God sees the value.
As mentioned last blog I’ve been reading ‘No Rules Rules’ - the story of building Netflix by its CEO, Reed Hastings. Reed preaches F&R, freedom, and responsibility. Amen to that! He talks a lot about increasing the talent density. Amen to that too. But he also talks about the value of telling the truth. Being brutally honest. Yes, there is always context, but Reed warns about spin artists who are really just masters of deception. Serious question: Do people trust the church to be brutally honest, contrite, and known for transparency and love? I can speak for myself, but I know so-called churchmen who claim to be straight shooters, but who are just regular spin artists, conmen who deceive themselves and deceive others. Don't associate with them.
We must do better and we must take action now. DOGE is the rage. Good. It is more than high time that we got productive in the church. Efficiency indeed, for the devil steals but God gives good gifts. Jesus says that his true disciples are those who produce much fruit (15:8). Friends don’t lie!
Our standards must be much higher. The old saying that it is good enough for a small town is a lie. The best is often found in a small town. Is it good enough for Jesus? That is our standard. As Christians, we must not want even a hint of immorality, impurity, or greed in our lives.
I'm convicted this week. I have not lived up to God's high standard. Not even a hint of impropriety. That’s the standard. Living truly above reproach. Preach that and the pews may be empty, but it’s the truth. We are sanctified by Jesus. I don’t know about you, but I have not taken responsibility to live up to God’s standards for Jesus’ disciples. I repent of that. I must aim much higher through Christ (Ephesians 5:3-4). Be known for excellence. Be known for freedom, yes. But much more so for responsible action. Put on the armor of Light and don’t be scared to save those caught in the ‘Upside Down’ world (Romans 13:11-12).
Lord Jesus, today we thank You for Your example. And Your friendship. Thank You for the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Lord Jesus, You were crucified in weakness, but you live in power. We too are weak, like branches, but with the Spirit of Christ, we live with resurrection power to serve and produce great things (2 Corinthians 13:3-4). Lord Jesus, you’ve established righteousness. The Standard is Yours. The government is on Your shoulders. You see all the fraud and abuse and waste. And You know those who love what is right and just and who fight for goodness. Help us to be true friends today Lord Jesus. Those who share freely and truthfully (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Help us Lord God to write and study and research and build and produce. For the Christian police officer help him to put on his boots and serve and protect. For the Christian mom help her to teach her children well, to build her household up with good management, and to grow her businesses with your guidance. And for the Christian dad, help him to get right with you today. With honesty. No lying. Help him to remain in Jesus to trust and risk, and yearn to grow in righteousness with humility and resiliency.
Whatever our gifting we use it today for the Father to work and produce. Help us today, Lord Jesus to be very long-term value investors. Our harvest and our yield are measured in eternity. But the world and the pruning that brings great glory to the Father is done here and now. Help us to be innocent and wise.
Some of us are not sure what to do today. Please help us to get up. To grab a cup of coffee. To take someone for coffee. To read Scripture. To pray. We need Your protection and guidance. Help us to stop sinning. Help us to not even think of making the same excuses again. Help us to ask for exactly what we want and need.
Lord Jesus, we need You today. We, Your sheep, are a needly flock. We know that apart from You we can do nothing. And we know that Your word purifies us, prunes us, and prepares us for the work ahead today.
Help us to risk well today. For we know that the risk of not producing good fruit for You far outweighs our concerns that drive us to inaction. May Your men be men for good, godly action. Quick to put people before the process. Quick to be candid positive and supportive. Brave enough to be transparent, vulnerable, and honest. And please give us the Wisdom to use all of our abilities so that we may not just produce, but that we produce good fruit as Your true disciples. Amen.
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