And He Was Called the Friend of God
And He Was Called the Friend of God
What an awesome relationship! Abraham was called “the friend of God”. Even amongst many so-called “religious” people, not many are really thought of as “the friend of God”. So, what made Abraham God’s friend? The book of James describes how Abraham believed God. He really believed that God, in all righteousness, would do all that He had promised. Faith made Abraham God’s friend. God had promised that Abraham would be the father of many nations, even though he had no children through his wife Sarah.
And then, when Abraham, in his old age, finally had Isaac for a son, he was told to sacrifice his only son. How horrifically heart-rending that had to be. But, Abraham believed that God would bring Isaac back from the dead. That is a faith and trust hard to come by. So, James 2:22-23 says,
You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
Abraham proved his friendship by having faith in God — because God Almighty is more than worthy of our faith.
So, how’s our friendship with our Creator and Redeemer coming along?
In all our troubles, do we feel that God isn’t keeping His promises to us? After all, in Hebrews 13:5, God is quoted as saying,
I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.
Do we believe that promise of God — or not? There is a whole lot of corruption going on in this world. Whether it be in the work force, government, media, church, or whatever, we have bad influences that disregard God Almighty, claim there is no God, and blatantly make life hard for Christians. With so many problems, many have lost faith in the Lord, as they feel deserted.
People are breaking away from their friendship with God. They don’t have the faith of Abraham. That is why Jesus told us that things would be this way in the end days. In Matthew 24:10-13, Jesus said,
And at that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, it is he who shall be saved.
Jesus has lovingly forewarned us — and promised to never desert us. Do we believe Him? Or, in the fray, are we going to stop believing in Him? What kind of friend are we? Cold-hearted? It’s going to be tough for us — just as it was tough for Abraham.
If we want to be God’s friend and endure to the end, it would be wise to open up our Bibles and find out what a good friend we have in Jesus. Then, as our troubles surround us, we say, “Hallelujah! Lord, thank You for being with us through thick and thin.”
Love,
Margaret
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Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus by the Yupiq Eskimo village of Quinhagak, Alaska
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… Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus …
A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and GOD of gods
Pray for our country
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The LORD made this day, let us rejoice and be glad in Him.
Psalm 118:24
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The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30
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Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psalm 33:1
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How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4
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Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13
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O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1
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Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3
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Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12
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