Friend of God: Letting Jesus Say Who You Really Are

by Rusty George

You are not the sum of what other people think of you. You are more than your victories or your mistakes. You, like John, are the one Jesus loves.

The apostle John grew up just like us. People handed him a ready list of labels―the brother of James, a Jew, a fisherman, a hothead―but then Jesus gave him a new direction in life. Writing about these events many years later, John referred to himself using a curious label. He always writes as “the one Jesus loved.” Many wonder about this choice. Some even think it’s presumptuous. Why would anyone single themselves out as the one loved by Jesus?

Rusty George wisely sees that John called himself “the one Jesus loves” so every reader could see that Jesus values and deeply loves them. Friend of God takes you inside John’s writings―his Gospel, his letters, and the Revelation―so you can discover how Jesus saw John, and thus how he sees you. The only person who gets to say who you are is Jesus.

Written as short devotional entries, Friend of God encourages you to take the next 45 days and see how your relationship with Jesus grows.

144 pages, Paperback

Published May 21, 2024

Reviews

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a day by day devotional for 40 days. It centers on the writings of John; his gospel, his letters, and finally, the book of Revelation. Rusty George uses scripture and personal stories that engage the reader. Some of the stories are funny, some touching, but all of them weave together the daily lesson with something from modern times. George is a good storyteller and asks the reader 3 questions. The challenge at the end of each devotional reading is to put yourself in the story, to read and ponder scripture, and consider who you are to Jesus Christ. I appreciate that there are no polarizing topics, most Christians despite their personal theology can use this book effectively. If you are looking for a new book to spark your imagination and your spiritual time, this would be a good fit for you.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe that the message of this book is so simple, yet so profound. Yes, it's a 40 day devotional but I didn't read it as one; I read it as a novel simply because somehow I didn't realise I wanted to read on and learn more. Rusty George puts our place and relationship with Christ into perspective using the one who called himself 'the one who Jesus loved' aka John the Apostle. Honestly, it humanised him and made him more than a biblical figure when George writes about his experiences and how he would have felt, and then related that to us in our current daily lives.

Any devotional is a starting point for thought and discussion, for further prayer and seeking wisdom and guidance and I believe that this was an excellent execution of that. There were times where I had to pause reading for days or a week just to properly digest what spiritual food I had consumed, (which I should have been doing in the first place).

I believe that it's excellent for those who are new, young or immature in the faith, being good spiritual milk for them, but it's also meat for those who are more mature in the faith when he makes several thought-invoking statements throughout the book that shifted my perspective on things that I thought I knew very well or things that I had never even considered. Like I said, it's simple yet profound. It's not new, ground breaking knowledge but it's humbling.

Also, I really liked this quote in reference to John's revelation.

Should I hug him or should I bow? His eyes are that of my friend, but his radiance is that of my Lord. He is here. And for the moment all is right.

Thank you Abilene Christian University Press & Leafwood Publishers for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Poppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75🌟
Thank you netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book.
Overall fairly enjoyable, a lovely little book of devotionals to deepen your faith and make time for God each day. I liked that they were all based around John's gospel and writings which I think are particularly beautiful books of the Bible.
This book used a lot of example stories and scenarios to talk about the ideas within it and while some were thought provoking and sweet it became rather tiring by the end of the book and some of the sections felt a bit repetitive. To be fair I was reading it faster than it was meant to be read as they are daily devotionals so this may have influenced my enjoyment.
I would've liked the chapters to be a bit longer to go deeper into the topics explored but if you are looking for short daily devotionals this is a nice book to pick up which can be easily slotted into a busy schedule.

[Abbey Madrid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very well written and I connected with it well. Rusty wasn’t just my pastor but a good friend. This book also shared with me that God to can be our friend.

[Shawnte H. Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the pressures of life it's easy to forget who we are. Rusty wrote this incredible book to remind us who we are in Jesus.