The Honor of Being Called a Friend
So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle. (Exodus 33:11 NKJV)
So Hushai, David’s friend, went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 15:37 NKJV)
“But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend. (Isaiah 41:8 NKJV)
And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. (James 2:23 NKJV)
“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15 NKJV)
Saints
The Lord has the name of every true believer written in the Book of Life. He not only knows us personally, but He has called us all Saints or Holy Ones. A Holy One is one who is set apart for God alone. We are no longer friends of the world because the friend of the world is an enemy of God. We are Saints, but I wonder if every Saint could be called a friend of God.
What is a Friend?
A friend is one who spends time in face to face conversation with God as Moses did. A friend is one who believes God for the impossible as Abraham did. A friend is one who is loyal as Hushai was to David. A friend is one who does what pleases the person he or she is befriending. As friends of the Lord we are supposed to do what the Lord asks us to do. What does He ask us to do in John 15? He asks us to love one another. He has said, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you (John 15:12-14 NKJV).” So we might be set apart for God but are we really His friend? We may pray well (talk to God as a friend), we may believe God for the impossible, but do we love other believers as He has loved us? Do we love others or do we use others? Do we defend others or do we criticize them?
Friend or Failure
Salvation is not of works lest anyone should boast that they deserve to be saved. However, it is one thing to be called a saint and it appears to be quite another thing to be called a friend of the Lord. That is a title of honor and it is one that I would like to have. I know that the Lord called Judas a friend when Judas betrayed Him. But Judas proved that he was not the Lord’s true friend. I would like the Lord to call me His friend like he did Moses and Abraham. That may require me to have an attitude adjustment. I am praying about it. How about you? Are you “using” and “managing” other Christians or are you sacrificing yourself for them? This laying down your life business is not something I am sure that I am ready to do.
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of October 30, 2022