If I were to tell you that the president of your country is my friend, it’s likely you wouldn’t believe me. You might even be tempted to call me a liar. But if your president were to go on national TV and say publicly that I’m his friend, then all doubts would fade away, right? The facts would back up my claim.
Now, what if I told you that God is my friend? Let’s check the facts, starting with the reality that God once called Abraham “My friend” (Isaiah 41:8; see also 2 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23). God said of Abraham, “I have singled him out” (Genesis 18:19). Other Bible translations render this as “I have chosen him” (NIV) or “I have known him” (NKJV). These words speak of divine election, of covenantal love, and of grace. Bible commentator H. C. Leupold translated the phrase this way: “For I acknowledge Him to be My intimate friend.”
A friend is someone with whom we aren’t afraid to share our true struggles and intimate secrets. Friends listen as we share our pain. When we have a problem, to whom do we turn? Our closest friend. Amazingly, when God had a burden, He shared it with His friend Abraham (Genesis 18:17).
You and I enjoy the same covenantal relationship with God as the one Abraham experienced. We’ve been chosen by God to be in His family (Ephesians 1:4-7). And we’re chosen by Jesus to be His friend. For He said, “You are My friends if you do what I command. . . . Now you are My friends, since I have told you everything the Father told Me. You didn’t choose Me. I chose you” (John 15:14-16).
Your very best friend is Jesus. Even if others let you down, He will be “with you always” (Matthew 28:20).
More:
According to John 15:12- 17, what did Jesus do for you, His friend?
Next:
How would you describe your friendship with Jesus? How have you been showing Him that He’s your best friend?
Akinolawale on January 31, 2011 at 2:33 am
“What a friend we have in Jesus!!!” A friendship that is right, true, sincere and faithful.
lindagma on January 31, 2011 at 6:26 am
I can tell Him anything…things I would not share with another soul…my hopes and dreams, and He does not laugh or question my abilities. He gives me my abilities…my ambitions…and He is the BEST listener ever.
pjp on January 31, 2011 at 6:41 am
Amen to that Akino & Lindagma.
GrowinginChrist on January 31, 2011 at 7:59 am
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grieves to bare. What a privilige to carry everything to God in prayer. My friend of ODJ. I have missed joining in on the daily conversations. My husband whom I have been seperated from for the past year has been diagnosed with stage 4 esphogeal cancer. The tumor in his throat has been keeping him from holding food down. He had a feeding tube placed in his stomach and a port in his chest for chemo, which starts today. I have moved back into the house with him to help in his care. But satan is back on his job, causing strife. My husband is once again on the warpath with me and my faith. I had missed bible study and church for a couple of sundays to help with his feedings. However he said I should go yesterday before the chemo begins so I went to church yesterday and he condemed me for it. This was the attitude that caused our seperation. I don’t know what is in store, but I do know that I will forever hold to God’s unchanging hand. He will not put more on me than I can bare. My prayers for him is that God would just touch him and let him know that he is God and is there for him.Lord God please help his unbelief. I could really use prayer for this situation we are in.
daisymarygoldr on January 31, 2011 at 1:20 pm
GrowinginChrist, The Lord is merciful and full of compassion. Just keep on believing…God’s arm is not short—He can still save your husband and His ears are not dull—He can still hear all your prayers (Isa 59:1). Praying for you and your husband…
eppistle on January 31, 2011 at 8:50 am
Not only is God the Father and Jesus His Son our friend, but so is the Holy Spirit. We often overlook the friendship of the Holy Spirt, but we are loved by Him (Romans 15:30) and He is our Counselor (John 16:7) which literally means “one who walks along side” or “a person summoned to one’s aid.” The term may refer to an advisor, a legal advocate, a mediator or intercessor. It’s actually to our advantage that Jesus left the earth, because now we have the Holy Spirit as such an intimate friend.
CBS on January 31, 2011 at 12:56 pm
GrowinginChrist,
Don’t take your ex-husband’s criticism personally. You may never know why he encourages you to do something, then criticizes you for folowing his advice. Just do what you believe will honor Christ and know that Christ is smiling on you, especially when you keep trying in spite of those who don’t appreciate you.
daisymarygoldr on January 31, 2011 at 1:23 pm
It is one thing to call God our friend and it is yet another thing when God calls us His friends. When our hearts beat together with God’s and our thoughts are in unison, there is a sheer transparency in that intimacy. He hides nothing from us and wants to share His joys and sorrows with His friends.
To share in His joys is a great delight. I love to see His happy, smiley face every time a sinner lost in sins is found, a sheep gone astray is brought back to the fold, and a prodigal child returns home. But when it is comes to share in His sufferings I’m ashamed to confess, my soul shrinks back in fear.
The knowledge of God’s grief is very painful—something which a parent grieving for a rebellious child might understand. The weight of the Father’s sorrow to see His children reject Him in unbelief is too heavy for my heart to bear. For a brief moment I had even wished He’d keep His pain to Himself and not add them to mine.
But then, one look into His eyes full of love mingled with sorrow—melts my heart and makes me become numb to all my personal pain. When God shared His burden with Abraham, he interceded for Sodom. It comforts Him to hear me intercede and pray for all to be saved and restored.
Friendship with God has both pressure and perks. I have the privilege to carry all my grief to the Lord in prayer. And being co-yoked with Him I am also committed to carry His burden. God does not ask us to bear burdens He Himself does not carry. And this is no “Messiah syndrome”. We experience a deeper level of intimacy with Christ when we share in His sufferings (Col1:24).
Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother and in order for me to be His friend, I must show myself friendly (Prov18:24 KJV)—to watch and pray with Him in obedience to His command—to love others just the way He loves me.