A couple days ago I talked about the importance of being a friend to those around you. Today I want to talk about what it means to be a friend of God. He is always our friend, but what does it take to be His? It is our goal always to draw closer to Him and become more like Him. What a rewarding feeling would it be to make it to Heaven and have Jesus call you His friend?
Have trust in God's plans
James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. (ESV)
Abraham was called a friend of God because of the amount of trust he had in Him. Abraham was also called the "father of faith." He believed God even to the point of sacrificing His own son. He recognized that God gives and takes away as He pleases. He trusted God so much with His life that He completely submitted himself to His will.
Do what He has commanded
John 15:12-14 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.
James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (NIV)
John 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (ESV)
Jesus doesn't call us to simply be hearers of the word, but also doers. He tells His disciples that He doesn't just expect for them to listen to His words like anyone can do, but He wanted them to be set apart and known for what that they do in His name. If you want to be called His friend, start putting the things you have heard into action.
Have open communication lines with Jesus
John 15:15-17 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. (NIV)
Like anyone, Jesus talks to His friends. This is why we are told to eagerly desire the gift of prophecy above all else. Prophecy means that you are hearing from Jesus and not just the other way around. We get really comfortable with bringing all our needs and concerns to Jesus but we rarely take a moment to hear from Him. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). If you quietly wait in His presence in prayer you will begin to notice the way He speaks back to you. If you are hearing from Jesus, it is a good sign that He considers you His friend.
Do not be friends with the world
The last way in which we grow in to become friends with Jesus is to avoid the temptation to be a friend to the world. We are tempted to be loved and liked by those around us in life and to do things that sacrifice our values to earn that "love." But we need to keep our eyes fixed on the One who loves us unconditionally. When we follow Hs word and commune with His people while reaching out to the world, is when He calls us friend.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals. (ESV)
James 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (ESV)
Have trust in God's plans
James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. (ESV)
Abraham was called a friend of God because of the amount of trust he had in Him. Abraham was also called the "father of faith." He believed God even to the point of sacrificing His own son. He recognized that God gives and takes away as He pleases. He trusted God so much with His life that He completely submitted himself to His will.
Do what He has commanded
John 15:12-14 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.
James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (NIV)
John 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (ESV)
Jesus doesn't call us to simply be hearers of the word, but also doers. He tells His disciples that He doesn't just expect for them to listen to His words like anyone can do, but He wanted them to be set apart and known for what that they do in His name. If you want to be called His friend, start putting the things you have heard into action.
Have open communication lines with Jesus
John 15:15-17 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. (NIV)
Like anyone, Jesus talks to His friends. This is why we are told to eagerly desire the gift of prophecy above all else. Prophecy means that you are hearing from Jesus and not just the other way around. We get really comfortable with bringing all our needs and concerns to Jesus but we rarely take a moment to hear from Him. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). If you quietly wait in His presence in prayer you will begin to notice the way He speaks back to you. If you are hearing from Jesus, it is a good sign that He considers you His friend.
Do not be friends with the world
The last way in which we grow in to become friends with Jesus is to avoid the temptation to be a friend to the world. We are tempted to be loved and liked by those around us in life and to do things that sacrifice our values to earn that "love." But we need to keep our eyes fixed on the One who loves us unconditionally. When we follow Hs word and commune with His people while reaching out to the world, is when He calls us friend.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals. (ESV)
James 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (ESV)
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