Friendship with God

Have you ever wondered what qualified Abraham to be called the friend of God? James 2:23 says, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith."* He was even called the friend of God.NLT

It was Abraham’s faith in God that qualified him to be called the friend of God. What were the factors of his faith? How do those relate to our most important friendship—our friendship with God?

Jesus said, in John 15:14-16, You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn't choose me. I chose you. NLT

1. We must obey what he asks us to do to experience His friendship. Abraham obeyed God even to the point of being willing to sacrifice his only son.

2. His friendship with us involves revealing the heart of God to us. Whatever the Father has told Him, He passes on to us. As we obey Him He counts us trustworthy and reveals His truth; so trust must be a factor in our friendship. God revealed His heart to Abraham; and even though it seemed impossible that God could fulfill His promise if Abraham killed the son he gave him in fulfillment of a promise, he was willing to trust God to do as He had said.

3. Loyalty is another factor. In inviting Him to be Master of our lives we are committed to His way of dealing with us. So no matter what He allows in our lives we must remain loyal to Him and trust that He is always working for our good and His glory. Abraham certainly exhibited this kind of loyalty to His Master.


4. Vulnerability is important also. Abraham stepped out in faith to do as God had asked. We must do the same in order to build a solid friendship with God. Though those around us may not understand or agree, and we, ourselves may not understand, we obey because we trust Him as our Friend. He will never ask us to do anything that is contrary to His love. Never!

5. He chose us first, to be our friend. His commitment is absolute. Ours should be nothing less. He is our ever faithful God.
What security we enjoy in the fact that He promises “never to leave us or forsake us”.

You call me Friend
But do you realize
How much the name implies?
It means that down the years,
Through sunshine and through tears,
There’s always Someone standing by your heart.
--H. B. Farr