One of the most important relationships on earth is friendship. There are different types and levels of friendship and all of us are experiencing that in one way or another. Our experiences often constitute our definitions of friendship or who we consider friends. Above all, the most important relationship we need to focus on is our friendship with God.
Who is a friend?
A friend is someone who accepts and understands you; a confidant, a great listener, an encourager. Furthermore, a friend can be a prayer partner, gist buddie, facebook friend, or an instagram or twitter follower.
A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for days of adversity – Proverbs 17:17NIV
Have you accepted His friend request?
Now, will you consider yourself a friend of God or are you just going through the motions? Are you a perfunctory Christian without a relationship or a personal encounter with God? Maybe you were raised in church and you just equated that with having a relationship with God – being his friend. Or have you lost that friendship at a point?
On the last day, some will say we have served in various capacities in our church or in a ministry; we have prophesied in Your name and Jesus will reply, I never knew you, depart from me. Matt7:22-23. Friends, it will be a huge disappointment to fall into such category.
Jesus has extended His friendship to you by laying down His life for you, have you accepted that friend request?
My friendship with God
I was born and raised in a Christian home so actively serving God was never a thing to debate on. I went to college, continued serving and became an active member of the choir, hospital and hotel evangelism. My friends and I prayed for patients at the hospital and introduced Christ to sex workers. I noticed that despite all these activities, I felt empty somehow. It was unexplainable. You see, good works could not fill the void. I finally opened up to one of my friends and she led me to Christ.
Please I beg you, don’t just be part of a crowd; salvation is a personal thing.
“The most important aspect of Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain with God and the surrounding influence and qualities produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to give our attention to, and it is the one thing that is continually under attack.” – Oswald Chambers
Are you interested in friendship with God?
Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Rev. 3:20 NLT.
The first step is to accept His invitation – His friend request. God is waiting with open arms to commence that friendship and like a father waiting for his child’s return, He is eagerly anticipating your return.
The next step involves maintaining that friendship. Every friendship requires work and commitment from both parties. Just like we make out time out of our busy schedules to hang out with our friends or chat over the phone. We also need to make a conscious effort to maintain our friendship with God: take time to know Him better by studying His word, communicate with Him through prayers, and find a bible believing church that can help you grow spiritually.
Grow your friendship with God
The Lord is a friend to those who fear Him. He teaches them his covenant. Ps. 25:14 NLT
As friendship grows, credibility and reliability gets enhanced such that vital information can be shared. Abraham believed in, adhered to, trusted in and relied on God and he was called a friend of God. James 2:23 AMP. Also, God confided in Him before He destroyed the land of Sodom and Gomorrah for their numerous sins although Abraham negotiated with God on behalf of the inhabitants of those lands. That kind of communication, reliance and complete trust comes from a place of intimacy and a secret place of true friendship. God is looking for a deeper level of friendship with you and I. Let us make time to grow that friendship.
I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you My friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My father. John 15:15
If you have not accepted God’s friend request, I invite you to pray with me:
Finally, if you are already in friendship with God, work on the relationship. Make a decision to know Him more and share that joy with others as well.
Shalom@TheJoyofHisPresence.