POST 23: What Does It Mean for God to Be Your Friend?
POST 23
What Does It Mean for God to Be Your Friend?
God is someone you love, who you have faith in, regardless if you can see him or not. God is that person who will always be there for you. God is our friend, our Father—our best friend actually. Once you start talking to him you feel his presence and know he’s there, you know he’s listening to you. God is that person you can’t live without.
Armando
The way we view God will shape our relationship with God.
God is described in multiple ways in the Bible—Lord, Almighty, Creator, Protector, Father, Mother, Spirit. Here’s one you may not think of often: Friend.
It’s true! You were made for friendship with God. God desires to have a relationship in which you know God, not just know about God. God wants to cultivate a real friendship, not just tell you what to do.
The night before Jesus went to the cross, he gathered with his closest companions, his disciples. Before they ate one last meal together, Jesus washed their feet as a symbol of humility and love. Then he began to give them his final teaching about truth and life. He told them he would not leave them alone and encouraged them to love one another.
And then he said, “I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15).
Jesus proved his friendship by being open and transparent. He withheld nothing from his disciples—or from us since we still have access to his words today.
Earlier in the conversation, Jesus said, “No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends” (v. 13). The next morning when Jesus was crucified, the impact of those words must have pierced the hearts of the disciples.
Truly Jesus was their friend and is now our friend. He made the ultimate sacrifice when he laid down his life so that we could be restored to our full humanity and reconciled to God forever.
Developing a Friendship with God
Now that Jesus has opened the door to friendship with God, how do you develop this friendship? The same way you develop most friendships—through vulnerability, communication, and spending time together.
First, open your heart to God. As scary as that may seem, this is actually the safest your heart will ever be. God will tenderly hold your heart because God already knows and loves you.
Second, communication is key to any relationship. Imagine having a friend who never actually speaks to you. That would be weird! You can talk to God any time through prayer. God is always available and accessible.
Third, spending time with friends is important. Just like you want to spend time with your friends, God wants to spend time with you. You can do this by reading the Bible, praying, meditating, and worshiping. Setting aside intentional time with God will help you get to know God’s heart.
I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15)
Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me. (Revelation 3:20)
REFLECT AND RESPOND
Journaling Questions
Have you ever thought of God as your friend? How does that make you feel?
How does God show friendship toward us?
Which of these three things do you want to try in your friendship with God this week:
God, you are my friend. Even if that doesn’t always feel natural to say, it is the truth! Thank you for your loving friendship. Thank you for seeing me and pursuing a relationship with me. May I be open to pursuing a relationship with you as well. In Jesus’ name, amen.
SOMETHING TO TRY
Dedicate a few minutes at the start or end of each day for a week to read the Bible and pray. At the end of the week, journal how your friendship with God has developed during that time. Eventually, you may be ready to increase the amount of time you spend with God each day.
THE TAKEAWAY
God desires a deep, genuine friendship with you.