Friends of God (F3)

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: James 2:23; Exodus 33:11; Romans 5:11

And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. (James 2:23 NLT)

Abraham was a remarkable man (See Genesis 12-25)! But his greatest claim to fame is that God called him “my friend” (Isaiah 41:8). When we follow Abraham’s story all the way through the Bible, it’s clear that the quality God valued so much in Abraham is his simple faith and trust in God. Faith, Trust, and Believing are characteristics that show up in every reference to him. I want to be a Friend of God, like Abraham! That means that I want to be a man whose faith is simple, whose trust is deep, and who is quick to believe what God says. Simple!

Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting. (Exodus 33:11 NLT)

Moses spoke with God as a man speaks to his friend. I thought about the stories of Moses at the burning bush, on Mt. Sinai, and speaking the Word and the words of God to the people of Israel. When I read Moses’ prayers in Exodus, I’m struck by his courageous honesty with God (See Exodus 32-34). If I want to be known as a man who speaks to God as one speaks to a friend, I must be honest with God. I must be honest about my sins and about my commitment to his will and his purpose. And I must be honest with others.

So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. (Romans 5:11 NLT)

Paul calls us friends of God! We have been made friends of God through our relationship with his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Our response to the privilege of this friendship is joyful acceptance.  We are friends of God not because we depend on our own righteousness, but through simple faith in Jesus Christ and through the relationship he has imparted to us. Faith, Honesty, and Joyful Acceptance is a good basis for our relationship as Friends of God!

Prayer:

Father, My friends and I believe and trust you. May we be increasingly honest with you and others. We joyfully accept the privilege of your Friendship! In Jesus Name!