To Encourage You

James 2:23 “Abraham believed God . . . and he was called a friend of God.”

Abraham was called a friend of God.  It’s hard to determine which is the more magnificent aspect of this statement: the condescension of God or the elevation of Abraham.  Think for a moment about your best friend.  Why is that person your friend?  How is it that the two of you ended up in such a relationship?  First, you had to meet each other.  You were at the same place at the same time for some reason.  Perhaps a mutual friend introduced you.  In any event, you became aware of this person in a new way, for even if you knew of this person, you may never have spoken with them face to face.  But now you have. Your relationship had a start, and as you learned more about this person, you became aware of their interests, their character, and their life’s story.  At the same time, they were learning those same things about you.  At some point, you both made a choice to go beyond that of a surface level relationship to that of mutual friends.  You both began to share more about yourself. You learned about each other’s family, friends, work, and interests.  Eventually you both felt comfortable enough in that relationship to reveal your deeper thoughts. You talked about the things you believed in.  You let each other know about the needs in your life. Eventually you did more than know about these needs. You came alongside to help. And you empathized. You grieved with each other and rejoiced with each other as your hearts became knit together as one.  That’s the way friendships go, especially the closest of such relationships. 

So, what does it mean to become a friend of God?  First, it can’t happen without God taking the first step.  We didn’t always know Him in this way. We couldn’t see Him. We may have only been vaguely aware that He even existed. But then He reached out to us. We were introduced to Him, most likely by one of His other friends.  This could have been through a Christian we knew, or perhaps by way of His Word given through one His friends from long ago by way of the Bible.  He chose to reach out to us in one way or another – rather, to reach down to us, way down, from His magnificent throne in heaven. He took the first step to be our friend.  It’s an incredible thing to think about. But it’s exactly what God does to become any person’s friend. 

But then we had to respond. We had to choose to know Him more deeply, and as He revealed Himself to us in one way or another, we had to say “Yes” to knowing Him more.  We had to go beyond a general awareness of His existence. As we heard the words that He was speaking to us, we had to actually believe what He had said. It was in that belief that a relationship was initiated, as incredible as it might seem.  We learned that this omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Creator of the universe wanted a deep and personal relationship with us. He wanted to tell us about the very deepest things on His heart, and He wanted us to tell Him about the deepest things in ours. 

So, do you have such a relationship with the God of heaven and earth? Are you one of whom Jesus would say, “I have called you friends” (John 15:15)?  If not, you can begin that relationship at this very moment. You can go beyond a general awareness of Him and be lifted up, way up, to a friendship with God.  But you have to choose to say “Yes” for that relationship to begin. He’s done all He can do to make a way for you. He’s said, “whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37).  But will you say “Yes,” as did the man Abraham? Will you believe Him, and thereby become His friend?