FRIEND OF GOD

Of all the names and designations of people in the Bible there is none to me that is more precious and powerful than ‘friend of God.’ Other names come close like son, daughter, children, etc., but friend of God has a special message. We are sons and daughters by adoption and it is by obedience we become friends.

The Book of James 2:23 says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness—and he was called a friend of God.” There are several references throughout the scriptures that call Abraham a friend of God. He of course is not the only friend. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15)

“Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.” (Exodus 33:11) When we are friends of God we will know the “ways of God.” “He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.” (Psalms 103:7)

As friends it is better to hear God’s voice face to face than to only read about all the stuff he did. Like Abraham, if we believe what we hear we also may become friends.

“You are my friends if you do what I command you.” Jesus