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 FRIEND OF GOD
from Israel and New Breed's performance of "Friend Of God" Finding true friendship is a blessing. To find someone who is willing to share both tears and laughter with you is a rarity. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, God himself has invested in a unique friendship with us. In the composition "Friend of God" on Israel and New Breed's Live From Another Level project from 2004, writers Israel Houghton and Michael Gungor explore the friendship God has forged with His children.
"Who am I that You are mindful of me, that you hear me when I call?" The Beginning of our Friendship How did God begin this friendship with us? Our friendships usually begin through some sort of casual interaction. Meeting someone at school, sitting next to that sister in the alto section, or having something in common with the brother on the basketball court may lead to a new relationship. However, God’s decision to develop a relationship with man required infinitely more than casual contact. Psalms 8:4 and Hebrews 2: 5-6 reads, “What is man that thou art mindful of him, the Son of Man that you care for him?” The psalmist’s question emphasizes the transcendent nature of God. In other words, God is holy and mighty —while we are common. So why is God concerned about the affairs of men? But the psalmist goes on to explain why God is uniquely concerned about men: You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under His feet. (Hebrews 2:7-8, Psalms 8:5-6)This prophetic passage points us directly to the Person of Jesus Christ. God the Father prepared a body for the Son. The Son took on flesh and became the Second Adam: the man Jesus Christ. Jesus lived this life as a man and was crowned with glory, honor and power (Romans 1:4, Heb. 10: 5-6, Psalms 8:5-6, John 1:14, I Pet. 3:22). As a result, God’s concern for mankind is unique because God himself has become a man! If God became an angel, He would be concerned with angels, but He did not become an angel. He decided to begin an intimate relationship with mankind although we were made a little lower than the angels. He decided to begin this friendship with us long before we were ever mindful of Him.
The Basis of our Friendship So, we know God loved us and therefore decided to become a man, die on a cross and rise from the dead that we may know Him. But how do we access this friendship? In James 2:23 we read: And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness and he was called the friend of God."We enter into this relationship with God through belief. Not by our works. Not even by our own effort, will or decision. No, it's strictly by grace through faith. Abraham simply believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. He then worked out his salvation through living a life governed by his belief in God. The great thing about this faith we have in Jesus Christ is that God is the one who grants it to us (Ephesians 2:8-9)! If the basis for our friendship was left up to us, we would never have a relationship with God, we would undoubtedly continue to reject God (Rom. 3:10-11). So first Christ began this friendship with us (incarnation, death and resurrection), then He provides us with what we need as the basis of our relationship —grace. "God almighty, Lord of Glory, You have called me friend" The Burden of His Friendship We are offered a relationship of intimate friendship with He who was declared to be the Son of God with Power (Romans 1:4). But how are we to respond to this offer of intimacy? In the Gospel according to John, Chapter 15 verses 14-15 Jesus says, “You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.” As our Lord, Jesus has the authority to command us to live, walk and give in a manner that is consistent with His character. Very often as believers we talk as if we are friends of God, but we live like we are friends with the world. In the chapter 4, verse 4 of his epistle, James rebukes us: You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4)While God has chosen us to be His friends, we can live as if we are friends with the world. He clearly expects us to respond to what He has done to call us and save us with obedience. Our obedience to Christ demonstrates that we are more than simply church-goers or believers in name only, but true disciples. By living a life of obedience in love, we demonstrate to others that we are friends with God almighty (John 15:17). "It's Amazing!" The Breadth of His Friendship Knowledge breeds intimacy. Intimacy and trust can be damaged when friends keep secrets from one another. The intimacy of a marriage can be crushed when one or more partners keep secrets they are ashamed or embarrassed by. Lies or “half-truths” can damage the bond between two long-time friends. But Jesus’ friendship with us is characterized by full disclosure. During the days of His flesh, Christ revealed everything he learned from the Father to His disciples. In John 15:15 we read: I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you.Christ has given us the best knowledge we could ever want from Him —the knowledge of the Father Himself! He hasn’t kept secrets from us, but has given us an intimate peek at the Father God. He generously gives us wisdom and He willingly reveals his mind and character to us (James 1:5, I Cor. 2:16). True friendship requires that friends know each other’s thoughts, desires and hopes. What an amazing Savior that He would show us Himself in such an intimate way! "Is it true that you are thinking of me?" The Brotherhood of His Friendship Proverbs 17:17 reads, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” You normally find out who your true friends are by the way they respond during trials. Jesus gives us the clearest example of Proverbs 17:17 in action. In the book of Hebrews we find this beautiful passage about the nature of our friendship with the Christ: Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the devil,… For He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:14, 16-17)
It really is amazing when we think of exactly how much Christ did to develop a relationship with his creation. It is unbelievable that God has called us into a deep, intimate relationship with himself. Let’s demonstrate our gratitude through loving as He loved, fully and unselfishly. Study Questions
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