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Article Archive |
2008
Friends of God
by Jim Morris
Only a few people in the Old Testament had the privilege of being called “friends of God.” In the beginning, ADAM and EVE talked with the Lord and walked with Him in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:16-17) but their willful disobedience broke up their friendship with the Creator (3:8-19).
ENOCH “walked with God for 300 years. . . then he was no more because God took him” (5:22, 24). NOAH “found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (6:8) and was allowed to survive the great flood that destroyed most of humanity. ABRAHAM “believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God's friend” (James 2:23). MOSES was on a first name basis with God. “The Lord would speak to Moses face-to-face, as a man speaks with his friend. . . And the Lord said to Moses, 'I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know your name” (Exodus 33:11, 17). Stephen said that God replaced King Saul with DAVID because, “I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22). JOB reminisced, “Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house” (Job 29:4).
What does it take to become a friend of God? How can we do the things that please Him?
First, we must seek to please God. “To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.” (Ecclesiastes 2:26).
Second, we must live righteously in God's eyes. “The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. The LORD detests the way of the wicked but he loves those who pursue righteousness” (Psalm 15:8-9).
Third, we must talk with God as good friends should and do. “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
Finally, we must obey all of His commands to the best of our ability. “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him” (1 John 3:21-22).
Jesus set the example for us. He walked with the Father in sinless perfection showing us that it could be done and how it could be done. Jesus said, “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him” (John 8:29). As a result, God said on two occasions, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17; 17:5).
Paul challenges all believers to seek God's friendship, saying, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and FIND OUT WHAT PLEASES THE LORD” (Ephesians 5:8-10).
12-24-08
# 52
