03/20/2017
We are going to contemplate an interesting topic this morning, by exploring two questions that are wonderful in their implication. Are we friends of God? Do we believe that is possible, and if so what does that mean in terms of our faith?
Let's deal first with the question "Do we believe that is possible." If we don't believe it is possible, then the first question is immaterial. Whether it is possible or not, if we don't believe we can actually be friends with God then no friendship can form.
We have all met people we found interesting and thought that we would like to become their friend, but the feeling wasn't reciprocated and no friendship developed... we remained acquaintances. But, this is not what we read in scripture considering God.
The Old Testament speaks much of the relationship between Abraham and God. In truth, they had a deep personal relationship in which Abraham could speak with the Lord as openly and Freely as if he were speaking to a close personal friend. So it wasn't surprising to read in scripture that he and God were indeed friends when God Himself says...
“But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;”
Isaiah 41:8 ESV
This friendship was recorded specifically in scripture three times. In Isaiah 41, as spoken by God, and Two more times...
“Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?”
2 Chronicles 20:7 ESV
And
“and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God.”
James 2:23 ESV
So becoming friends with God is indeed possible, but is it limited to Abraham? The answer would have to be no, because Jesus spoke to his disciples in much the same way. Friendship between ourselves and God is not a one time occurrence with Abraham...
“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.”
John 15:15 ESV
Given that our friendship can be more than a desire, what is necessary for that to occur? To become friends with God we must believe in Him, and become righteous. These are the reasons given for God's friendship with Abraham, and we will realize it has happened in our lives when God begins to walk and confide in us.
When we are friends, Oswald Chambers writes (referring to Isaiah 41), we will know and live in the will of God without question...
" This chapter brings out the delight of real friendship with God as compared with occasional feelings of His presence in prayer. To be so much in contact with God that you never need to ask Him to show you His will, is to be nearing the final stage of your discipline in the life of faith." - Oswald Chambers
Have you had friends like that? Have you had a friend that you were so close with that you knew without even asking what they liked or disliked, and they knew this about you as well? Could you sit together for hours and say very little because the joy of their company was enough? This is the relationship Abraham had with God, and that same friendship is ours to have with Him too.
So trust Him, trust Him more than a childhood friend with your most intimate secrets. He will not let you down and will always be beside you. He will hold you when you are hurting, defend you in a fight, correct you without offense, and perform all the acts you expect of a friend... and more. We have a friend in the Lord.
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”
Psalms 37:3-5 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I love you as my Father, but also my closest friend. Let me walk with you and always be in your will. Let my prayers become a conversation between friends and unfettered by any distrust, or fear of revelation. Let my deepest desires be known to you and your corrections be taken by me without offense or hurt feelings. May our friendship be like the one you had with Abraham, or that Jesus had with His disciples. Let our words be the words of joy and love for one another, and our silences like peaceful confirmation that we love the very presence of the other in unspoken understanding... together in your will that has now become ours.
Rich Forbes