“There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24).

We thank the dear Lord for inspiring His apostle to write for us that precious Book of Hebrews. No other book in the Bible so clearly reveals Jesus Christ for us as our “Brother” in human flesh--the divine One closest to us, “sticking closer” to us than even the best of our human brothers: “There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24). Jesus is that Friend.

That’s the One that Hebrews describes:

(1) You must know how close He is. It’s a heavenly “family” that Ephesians says you have already been “adopted” into (1:3-7).

(2) If your lonely heart cries out “Father!” Heaven looks upon you as already adopted into the Family (see Rom. 8:14-17). He respects your heart-choice. I can’t begin to describe what it means to be an “heir of God and joint-heir with Christ.” But that’s what you are by virtue of Christ’s sacrifice, the One who “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:13, 14). He did all this before we could say yes or no; it was already true before we were born, but He can’t force Himself on us: He did the giving of Himself, but He also gave us the freedom of choice--we can refuse the adoption. Don’t refuse it!

(3) An “heir of God and joint-heir with Christ”? Those are holy words; we pause as we write them. Even the highest angels are not so honored or blessed!

(4) The angels must stand back with their hands folded as you march past them on your way to the Great White Throne where high above it stands the cross of Christ where you were “adopted” (cf. Rev. 20:11, 12). The angels can’t come as close as you!

(5) The love of God (agape) is what God says He is (1 John 4:8); it is high and holy, divine; it has to be “perfect” for “God is agape,” but John also says an almost unbelievable truth: that agape is “perfected in us”--in us who are weak and sinful (vs. 12). Ten thousand angels playing their harps and singing praise to God do not bring Him as much honor as does one lowly, hopeless, selfish sinner who opens his heart and permits that agape to transform him into the likeness of Christ in character. God is agape but the circuit is completed in you and me.

(6) You will enter the New Jerusalem not as a convict barely forgiven but as someone highly honored, “in Christ”!

Say “yes!” to Him today.