A friend at midnight

https://odb.org/2025/07/30/a-friend-at-midnight

John 15:14–17 (NIV): 14 “You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name, the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

I can count a handful of friends whom I could call at midnight if I were in trouble. Under normal circumstances, it would be our parents or siblings, but in my case, my parents have passed on, and my only sister stays in a town two hours drive away. The next person will be my pastor, whom I think will be the first person every member of my church will call when they get into trouble! I do have a few close friends beyond my church social circle, some who are ex-colleagues that I still keep in touch. But basically, that’s about it.

We know that we can call upon Jesus and, more specifically, the Holy Spirit. He is just a prayer away. He is a friend as much as He is a brother and our Lord. He is the person who carries us when we see only one set of footsteps at the beach. He is a shoulder we can cry on, and our friend, whom we may rejoice with, when we reach a milestone in our physical and spiritual lives. He is after all the Alpha and Omega, the author and finisher of our faith. He may be our judge at the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ, but He cheers and encourages us to give our best for God!

Jesus actually spoke in Luke 11:5-8 on the parable on a friend at midnight, but in a different context, to illustrate a different point.

The question this morning is, can we be the friend at midnight our friends may call upon when they are in trouble? Can we be Christ to those around us as a reflection of Christ’s glory and image in our lives? Will we take up the call, get dressed, and go out and help our friends, although we are in the midst of our adventures in dreamland? Our day at work tomorrow will likely be ruined, but will we spare the moment, sacrifice our beauty sleep to still help?

Have a great day ahead at work today, and may the LORD our God bless and provide us with wisdom to manage our time effectively to do our best!