God’s Friends

Earlier this week I attended the visitation and funeral of my uncle and saw many of my cousins. Although we don’t see each other often, when we come together to support one another in a difficult time, it’s with genuine love and concern. (It was this way even with a cousin I hadn’t seen in nearly 30 years!) 

We are cousins, but I also count them as my friends. 

Proverbs 17:17 defines a friend as someone who “loves at all times.” 

Loves through the good times and bad. Loves when it’s convenient and when it’s not. 

God loves us in that manner, perfectly. He is the purest definition of a Friend (and much more like Sovereign and Just and Holy). 

No one else can fulfill Proverbs 17:17. No one else can love at all times.

But we can still be a friend, even with our imperfect love. 

And it blows my mind to think of being a friend of God’s too! His friend! Now that’s intimate. That’s relationship.

But it’s true. It’s right there in the Bible,  James chapter 2. 

Abraham was a sinner like you and me. And the Bible tells us He was God’s friend. Why? Because Abraham loved God and believed His promises.

Abraham believed in God’s perfect plan for His life, even though it looked impossible. He trusted in God’s perfect timing, even though he grew tired of waiting. 

Do I love God and believe in His perfect plan for my life, even though it may at times look humanly impossible? Do I trust in His perfect timing, even though I am tired of waiting? 

Do you?  

If we truly love and believe God, through the righteousness we receive in Jesus Christ, we are His friends! [←Tweet this.]

Just imagine! 

“So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, and he was called God’s friend” (James 2:23).

 Reflections: For what aspect of your life are you believing God? Have you thought of yourself as God’s friend before? 

Once again I’m linking with Lisa-Jo and 5 minute Friday where a crowd writes uninhibited for 5 minutes (or a few more) on a given topic. It is a wonderful exercise in letting the words flow. Click the button (icon) to check out more posts or consider linking up yourself. Today’s word is: “Friend.”

By His grace ≈

Julie