FRIENDS
16th Jan 2019
One major tragedy that happened when Adam and Eve sinned was they lost their daily walk with God in the garden, in the cool of the day. I feel sad every time I read the account of the fall in Genesis; they lost their friend.
God’s plan of redemption was not only to deal with sin and disobedience, but to restore friendship with His creation. Friendship it is a vital need for every human being. God longs to again have his people as friends, “Abraham believed God …… and he was called God’s friend.” (James 2:23)
This continues with Moses, “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.” (Exodus 33:11) When Jesus called his disciples it declares, “He appointed twelve - designating them as apostles - that they might be with him” (Mark 3:14) He didn’t just want a group of folk who could work for him and go out and expand the ministry, he wanted their friendship.
Jesus affirms this at the Last Supper, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15)
God wants our friendship, He longs to share His heart with us, He wants us to know that He is always near and responsive to the cry of our hearts. He is the friend who will never let us down and it always at our side. When Jesus was about to go to the cross, and about to be abandoned by all His disciples He was able to say, “You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone for my Father is with me.” (John 16:32)
We can neglect His friendship, we can become dislocated through unforgiveness and disobedience. But just like the Father in the Prodigal Son story, the moment we take a step towards Him he comes running to restore the relationship.
God is your friend, He is the most important relationship in your life. He loves to spend time with you, He loves to share the secrets of His heart. Don’t neglect your Friend.
by Charles Sibthorpe
