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In Bible days, the most powerful person in the land after the king was the king’s friend. He had unhindered access to the king, the type no officer or official in the kingdom had.
It may sound blasphemous to some people to say that one can be a friend of God. God is so awesome, holy, powerful etc, that man cannot stand all His perfect qualities and attributes to imagine being His friend.
Such consideration may appear right but is not true because God himself decided to stoop low to allow as many humans as possible who desire to be His friend to explore this possibility. Therefore, it is neither a wishful thinking nor a foolish desire to seek to become a friend of God. God desires to make friend with man and does not forbid him from coming into friendship with Him provided he meets His conditions.
Abraham is someone the Bible describes as God’s friend, and he was a mortal like you and me. “O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham” (2 Chro 20:7 NLT). Isaiah 41:8 also refers to Abraham as God’s friend. “But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from my friend Abraham” (NLT).
James 2:23 tells us, “Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous. He was even called ‘the friend of God” (NLT). From this Scripture, we see the kind of person that Abraham was in his relationship with God. Abraham was a man who believed God and God declared him righteous.
Even in relationships with fellow human beings, there are parameters that guide parties. Not everybody can be someone’s friend. Friendship is not by force; it is by choice. Those who want to be friends must be agreeable to the terms. They must be sensitive to the needs and desires of each other or one another. Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly” (NKJV).
Ordinarily, it is not possible for man to be a friend of God, but this is possible because God wants it so. However, being a friend of God can only be on the terms of God. You cannot be a friend of God on your own terms. Whoever will be a friend of God must meet God’s requirements.
Will you like to be God’s friend? I believe God has spoken to you already. What decision are you going to make in view of what you have read? Be a doer of the Word and not a reader alone. Join me next week when I will begin to show you what you must do to become God’s friend. This message is very important; please don’t miss any of the series.
