The privilege of friendship with God

If you are a believer in Christ, then you are a friend of God. Do you count it a privilege to have a friendship with God?

Have you ever been in a place where someone pretended that you were critical to them but turned out you weren’t?

A friend of mine sent me this quote, and it shook me, not because it has happened to me (it sure has) but because it is so common.

It shook me because I realized the blessings that I take for granted.

As soon as I saw the quote, I immediately thought of one thing….

I’m not sure if you can guess what it is?

But, I thought about the way that God’s got you and me. I thought about how I would never have to feel like this as a believer in Christ because God has promised that he will never leave me nor forsake me.

Yet, it hurts, doesn’t it, when our human relationships don’t work out.

It hurts when friends move on and seemingly forget about us.

So, what should we do about it?

Are we going to mope and pout and throw a tantrum? No way!

Contents

We can look to Jesus. He is everything in one.

Provider
Friend
Comforter
Healer
Daily bread
Savior
Sustainer
Shield and Defender
High Priest
Protector

And we can go on and on and on…

But it doesn’t stop the hurt that has been embedded in your heart. Does it?

Humans may have their own agenda, and when it is fulfilled, they have no use for you, but God doesn’t discard his own. You were bought and paid for through his precious Son, and he has called you his friend.

I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to be a friend of King Jesus.

I’m excited that I’m not just his daughter but a close friend.

What about Jesus?

The perfect example of an awesome friend is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus had a mission. He volunteered to redeemed humanity back to God.

Do you remember what happened on Palm Sunday? How about the many followers that surrounded him, always waiting for his next prophetic word and heavenly teaching? They loved him.

Sadly, it was only for a time.

They were screaming “Hosanna in the highest” at the top of their lungs. The crowd took off their outer garments and cut down palm tree branches to lay them at the feet of Jesus, their supposed next King.

They had an agenda. Everyone wanted Jesus to know that they required a new King and that he was perfect to fill that position.

One week later, the same crowd was found screaming at the top of their lungs once again, but this time they were saying, “Crucify him, crucify him.”

Didn’t they claim to love him, to be his friends, to crave his words of wisdom? Yes, but it wasn’t enough. Their relationship was only skin deep. It didn’t reach the heart.

Jesus forgave every single one that fateful day of his crucifixion, and we can forgive too. Forgiveness is key.

The privilege of friendship with God — Friendship is Beautiful.

Scriptures to help

So, my friend, there will be times when you will be faced with a loss of friends and relationships, but that isn’t the time to throw a pity party.

Look for the good in it all. God might be preparing you to be blessed with friendships, and a relationship that will enable you to expand your horizon and branch out into the calling God has placed on your life.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
John 15:12-15

Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice and bridged the gap that separated us. He has called you his friend because you have accepted the gift of salvation due to his sacrifice. He exhibited the greatest display of love ever shown when he proved his friendship through death.

The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray
Proverbs 12:26

Be a godly friend to someone. The words of advice you give should be seasoned with the word of God. Suppose the advice you give wouldn’t make God smile, then you’re not doing your friend justice. Remember, the golden rule.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24

You know who this friend is, right? God is with you always. No matter the situation, he will always be there. We can count on Him.

I’ll leave you with this quote:

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.”
C.S. Lewis