A Friend of God
| Grandpa Os had several businesses and did some farming. He was the first person to question the existence of God to me. One day he asked me, “How do you know that there is a God?” I was just a young boy but the answer immediately popped into my mind, “Because I talked to Him this morning and He talked to me.” Grandpa Os had no reply. Personal experience can’t be argued with. Grandpa Os died of a heart attack sometime later. But before he died he asked my grandmother to pray with him. |
In our increasingly secular society more people are vehemently claiming to be atheists. Many brazenly blaspheme a holy God who they say doesn’t exist. Many religions believe in a God who is far off, disinterested in His creation or is not knowable in a personal way. The God of the Bible is the creator of all things. He has always desired and sought intimate fellowship with man, whom he created in his own image. Jesus came to reveal that God is our heavenly Father. He is a God of love, mercy, grace, goodness, holiness, and justice. There is a penalty for sin – death. (Romans 6:23) Jesus came to pay the redemption price for our guilt by his death on the cross. Christ’s resurrection verifies that the debt of guilt has been satisfied. (Isaiah 53) Through the blood of Jesus we are brought back into fellowship with God the Father. (I John 1)
One of the greatest blessings of knowing and experiencing God is to be His friend. God called Abraham His friend. (Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23) Think about it! A friend of God! The creator of the universe! Jesus revealed that not only can we be His servants but that he desires us as friends. “Now you are my friends.” (John 15:13-15)
How can we be a friend of God?
First – FAITH – It’s the only way. “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness” (James 2:23). Abraham took God at His Word. “For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Faith pleases God. (Hebrews 11:6)
Second – FELLOWSHIP – It is the way of intimate friendship with God. To be God’s friend is to delight in spending time with Him through worship, prayer, and reading, studying, and meditating on the Word of God. Jesus is knocking at your heart’s door. Will you invite Him in and begin an amazing adventure with God as your friend? (Revelation 3:20)
Third – FAITHFUL – Jesus said that if we obey him, we are his friends. (John 15:13-15) You cannot be a friend of the world and a friend of God. In Hebrews 11 we find a list of faithful men and women who forsook the world of sin and self and obeyed God at great cost. They were friends of God.
Fourth – FUTURISTIC – Abraham, the friend of God, looked for another city whose architect and builder is God. He realized this world was not his home. He looked for and lived for that eternal city where all the friends of God shall live. (Hebrews 11:8-10)
Fifth – FULL – Friends of God are full of the Spirit of God. (Romans 5:5) Being full of Jesus gives us the right and power to be His friends. “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God” (Romans 5:10-11 NLT).
Jesus is the best friend you’ll ever have!
by: Cliff Sanders