Are You and Jesus Buddies – Some thoughts from a real conversation.

Jesus is My Buddy –

Pastor Calvin Cook

December 12, 2025

Scripture – John 15:14-15 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (ESV)

Recently I had a conversation with someone that I had not seen in a while. A person who I am concerned about. I became affiliated with this person due to a struggle with homelessness. Because of some past difficulties, has experienced homelessness or sleeping in a different place each night. I care a lot about this person and others who, because of life’s situations, bad decisions and these decision’s consequences, leave them in a state of uncertainty. I know this because admittingly this is the state that we all have lived in or currently live in caused by a myriad of situations.

In conversation with my friend, it was shared of recent difficulties, disappointments, and struggles. Knowing this person and where this person often is, I asked the question, “How are you with Jesus?” To which the instant response came – “Me and Jesus are buddies, I’m ok with Jesus.”  I thought about this through the day and settled in last night praying for my friend, but more importantly people like him and my self who are trying so desperately to follow Jesus but live in a state where we are on the edges, sometimes good, sometimes happy, sometimes wandering, sometimes in great distress, we are all whether we want to admit it or not, are living life from the edges.

There is a whole world that is living life “From the Edges” some while trying so hard to follow Jesus, some who are walking away and trying to find the next temporary fix. (Note : Hope you see the title for these devotionals “Following Jesus – From the Edges”.) I do realize some days how easy it is and some days how difficult this is which would require a book to talk about.

Any how – back to my friend’s comment – “Me and Jesus are buddies, I’m ok with Jesus” is really what brings me to question this morning in a very real way. Are we OK with Jesus? In the deep corners of our life where no one except Jesus can see, are we ok? And to go further and deeper is Jesus Ok with me with you?

Are you doing more than just trying to meet your needs or other’s needs as a form of forgiveness, salvation and redemption – or are you trying to be OK with Jesus and Jesus OK with you?

Did you notice today’s scripture – John 15:14 – “You are my friends, if you do what I command you.” Please don’t shoot the messenger, that is a question at some point we must be willing to answer. Am I following Jesus’s teachings, commandments, and direction.

My dear friends – we have a loving friend in Jesus who is making everything known to us. We just have to be willing to receive and allow this to change us.

I’m praying this today, I’m praying for my friend, I’m praying it for my loved ones, I’m praying it for the church, I’m praying it for you, and hope you are praying it for me and others as well.

I close with words for the one who really is desiring to be “buddies with Jesus” – It is available to you, regardless of who you are, where you have been, what your past has looked liked and begins with the simple words: Jesus I welcome you in, come and change me, forgive me, and show me the promises you have for me. I surrender all.!