What a Friend!

What a Friend!

“……..And he (Abraham) was called the friend of God.” James2:23

What an honor for Abraham! If we ever dare to think of ourselves as God’s friend, we probably do it very hesitantly, recognizing our own unworthiness when compared to God. But from this verse we notice that it is not Abraham who calls himself a friend, others called him “the friend of God”. What did they notice about Abraham to bestow such an honor on him? Any friend of God must appear as if he is circulating in God’s company; he must make others remember God as they look at him. They must see the friend functioning and living out his daily life as God requires. The friend must express some of the qualities of God such as holiness, righteousness and love, among many others. The friend would have to be like a witness, a representative of God.

If this sounds like a difficult challenge, it is! It is not easy for anyone and yet it is what God wants, He wants us to be His friends. Jesus told His disciples : “From now on, I do not call you servants… I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known unto you.” He also said: “You are my friends if you do whatever I tell you to do.” And again: “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lays down his life for his friends.” (As He did!) John 15: 12-15

Jesus was not trying to discourage the disciples, He was simply telling them how they could become His friends – by having a deep faith in Him, by loving Him and being obedient to Him. All his teachings and the secrets He shared with His disciples, if followed, would fashion them into being people who could be called friends of God.

So what do you call yourself in relation to God? What do others call you?

More importantly, what would you like to be called? A friend of God? The honor could also be yours.

Al Jones