Read: James 2:18–26 

What a friend we have in Jesus.

耶稣是我们最亲爱的朋友。

“Abraham believed God . . . ,” and he was called God’s friend. James 2:23

“亚伯拉罕信上帝??。”他又得称为上帝的朋友。-雅各书2章23节 

One of the pieces of wisdom I have come to appreciate is my dad’s often-repeated statement, “Joe, good friends are one of life’s greatest treasures.” How true! With good friends, you are never alone. They’re attentive to your needs and gladly share life’s joys and burdens.

有一句我很欣赏的至理名言，是父亲常挂在嘴边的一句话。他说：“儿子啊，好友是人生最大的财富。”真是一点都没错！有了好友，就不会孤单。他们总是关心你的需要，并且乐意与你分享人生中的喜乐与重担。

Before Jesus came to earth, only two individuals were called friends of God. The Lord spoke to Moses “as one speaks to a friend” (Ex. 33:11), and Abraham “was called God’s friend” (James 2:23; see 2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8).

在耶稣降世为人之前，只有两个人被称为上帝的朋友。上帝对摩西说话，“好像人与朋友说话一般”(出埃及记33章11节) ，而亚伯拉罕则被“称为上帝的朋友”(雅各书2章23节；历代志下20章7节；以赛亚书41章8节) 。

I am amazed that Jesus calls those of us who belong to Him friends: “I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). And His friendship is so deep that He laid down His life for us. John says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (v. 13).

令我感到惊讶的是，耶稣会称那些属乎祂的人为祂的“朋友”。“我乃称你们为朋友，因我从我父所听见的，已经都告诉你们了”(约翰福音15章15节) 。耶稣向我们所怀的友情极深，祂还甘愿为我们舍命，正如约翰说：“人为朋友舍命，人的爱心没有比这个大的。”(13节)

What a privilege and blessing to have Jesus as our friend! He is a friend who will never leave us or forsake us. He intercedes for us before the Father and supplies all our needs. He forgives all our sins, understands all our sorrows, and gives us sufficient grace in times of trouble. He is indeed our best friend!

耶稣能成为我们亲爱的朋友，这是何等特殊的恩典与福分啊！祂是我们的挚友，永远不离不弃。祂在天父面前为我们代求，又供应我们一切的需要；祂赦免我们一切的罪孽，深知你我内心的伤痛。在危难的时刻，祂还赐下够用的恩典。祂真是我们的挚友！

Lord, I am thankful that You have called me Your friend. May I ever be grateful for the privilege!

主啊，感谢祢称我为祢的朋友。

我要永远为这份特别的恩典，向祢献上感恩！

James 2:18-26New International Version (NIV)

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[b]and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

整理：于姊妹