Can We Be Friends with God?

"Let those be thy choicest companions who have made Christ their chief companion."  - Thomas Brooks

Friend is a human word. We recognize a friend as a someone we know, and with whom we develop a close mutual relationship or friendship. Friends can bring certain elements to our lives. A good friendship is mutually beneficial. Each friend gets something out of it.

As we know, not all friendships are long lived, nor are they always mutually beneficial. Throughout our lives friends come and go like the ebbing tide. If we are really lucky, some friendships can last a lifetime. These friendships are truly worth their weight in gold.

To us, the word friend is a fairly common word. It might even be tossed around just a little too freely. But this is not the case in Scripture. Friend is especially defined and guarded. It's a word that is used sparingly so as not to reveal its full significance. We find the Divine interpretation and definition of friendship in the Book of Proverbs.

A friend is one who: loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17); through conversation, enlivens our intellect as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17); brings joy to the heart, by the pleasantness of their heartfelt advice (Proverbs 27:9); in faithful love, tells us the truth, even if it hurts (Proverbs 27:6); is with us, come what may (Proverbs 18:24).

If we re-examine these examples, we would undoubtedly see what they are alluding to. Everything points to Christ that we might know that he is our friend. But our own weak faith and wisdom can impede us from believing that he is willing, or able, to be such a friend.

How can we possibly be friends with Jesus when he is in heaven and we are stuck down here on earth? After all, he is the Eternal Son of God, our Creator, Redeemer, King, and High Priest. Are we simply being presumptuous here?

The answer is a resounding "No!" Such a friendship with the invisible God has been, and, is possible (Genesis 18:19; Exodus 33:11). Further, Jesus specially arranged for the exchange between us to be a most enjoyable one (John 14: 20, 27). Let's walk together in friendship with him.

Let's promote a strong, and deeply committed friendship with God, rather than one that is anemic and insincere. One, where on that day when we finally all gather together, He can lovingly declare, "my dear friends, you have always obeyed" (Philippians 2:12).

Scripture: Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:8; Romans 11:32; John 15:9-10; 1 John 4:7  

Prayer: Dear Lord, lead me to live in such a way as to treat others in the same way as I would like to be treated. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey