Discover a Proven Good Friend in Jesus
At the end of July, I posted the word relationship as the word of the week on my social media. I followed that with the blog post “How to Live into Jesus’ “Good Life” Amid Paradox and Tension.” In my blog I stated the following.
“God aches for a relationship with each of us. His number one desire is to welcome us into His presence and allow us to know Him in the fullness of His glory.”
Defining a Relationship with God
When I discussed my word of the week in my social media post, I posed several questions. What does a relationship with God mean? Are you friends? Do you consider it more as a boss to employee type relationship? What does a relationship with God require of us, and what is expected of Him?
I felt those questions, know what I mean? I wasn’t content to let them hang in the air without answers. So, I began to ponder what I thought it meant to have a relationship with God.
I identified four descriptors of my relationship with God. First of all, God and I are friends. Second, God is the Sovereign power in our relationship. Third, He is my counselor and guide. Lastly, God is my provider.
God is our Friend
We often talk about God as our friend in religious circles. We find it comforting to think the God and Creator of the universe chooses us as His friends. On a Sunday morning, we joyfully sing songs like “Friend of God,” or “What a Friend we have in Jesus.”
I admit, I fully embrace the idea that I am God’s friend. However, I wonder if we diminish the significance of our relationship with God by categorizing Him as our friend.
What is a Friend?
I don’t think we always value friendship as we should. Too often, we use the word friend loosely by calling people we’ve never met but connect with on social media our friends. We attempt to qualify a friendship by labeling someone as our BFF. I’ve noticed people use the word friend even to identify another who they barely have a passing acquaintance with.
According to Google, a good friend is trustworthy, loyal, dependable, supportive, empathetic, respectful, honest, non-judgmental, and reliable. Kaytee Gills, a licensed social worker identified some additional traits in an article for Psychology Today. She added the idea that you feel good when you are with someone who is a friend, a friend has time to spend with you, and a friend is willing to apologize and admit when he or she is wrong.
I see God as trustworthy, loyal, dependable, and more. I feel good when I spend time with Jesus. In addition, I know it’s safe to admit to Christ when I’ve done something wrong because He is big on forgiveness. God’s Word provides us with wisdom that affirms God as our friend.
Abraham was God’s Friend
“And so, it happened just as Scriptures say: ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’ He was even called the friend of God.”
James 2:23, NLT
James tells us Abraham was God’s friend. Plus, he informs us how that happened so that we too can become God’s friend. In the relationship between Abraham and God, Abraham trusted God to be all He claimed to be, and to do all He promised He would do. In turn, God placed Abraham in the category of being righteous.
Did you notice Abraham didn’t become righteous because he did all the right things on a pre-determined checklist? God declared Abraham to be righteous because Abraham viewed God and treated God in the way God deserved to be viewed and treated. Abraham did right by who God is, and so God declared him to be His friend.
As our friend, God accepts what we bring to Him and He accepts us. He gives us credit for treating Him as the One we can depend on. God treats us with respect, generosity, and a willingness to set aside judgement.
God Spoke to Moses Face to Face
“Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend…”
Exodus 33:11, NLT
I love the image of God speaking to Moses face to face. I find it easier to imagine Jesus sitting down to coffee with me each morning because of this verse. As I studied this verse in its context, I discovered that in Exodus 33:20, God tells Moses he can’t look directly at God’s face because no one can see God and live.
I learned the phrase “face-to-face” is a figurative expression suggesting openness and friendship according to the Bible Knowledge Commentary. Moses is inside the Tent of Meeting, so he is purposefully choosing to spend time with God. God graciously meets with Moses and speaks to him.
As our friend, God is accessible and willing to be intimate with us. He welcomes us into His presence. In addition, He communicates with us even though we are unworthy to be in His presence.
God’s Friendship is Better than a Close Relative
“…a real friend sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:24, NLT
We’ve all heard the phrases “blood is thicker than water,” and “family sticks together.” Not all of us would declare these concepts to describe our family. However, there is a sense that because we have lived so much of life together, family remains whether they want to or not.
In the Proverb, we learn a true friend will be with us all the time. This friend remains available to help us, offer wisdom, listen to us, encourage us, walk through dark days with us, and celebrate with us. We learn in Matthew that Jesus is Emmanuel, the with us God. Paul tells the Corinthian church that God invites us into partnership with Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9). Our Lord Jesus Christ is the epitome of a friend who chooses to stick closer to us than even any relative.
God Reveals Himself to His Friends
“The LORD is a friend to those who fear him, He teaches them His covenant.”
Psalms 25:14, NLT
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.”
John 15:13-15, NLT
You know you have a good friend when you can spill your guts to her. You know your relationship with someone is tight when she shares her deep struggles with you. God is the friend who spills His guts to us. I know that sounds odd, but He intentionally doesn’t hide who He is, nor what He thinks about things from us.
In addition, God welcomes all the words we need to express and all the emotions we must vent. He doesn’t shy away from us. Instead, He steps in and provides His wisdom, encouragement, and strength. His Holy Spirit teaches us how to live the good life Jesus talked about.
God is Committed to Friendship with Us
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
Revelation 3:20, NLT
Many of us have heard this verse as an invitation to accept Jesus into our hearts as Savior. In the context of Revelation 3, God is speaking to the church in Laodicea and confronting them about their lukewarm faith. They are not fully committed to Jesus and His Kingdom; they have more of a social faith.
As a great friend, Christ stands waiting for them, and us, to welcome Him into their lives. He is committed to making the relationship work. He offers full acceptance and community. However, each person must be willing to open the door and allow Jesus to influence their lives, because good friends transform our lives and make them better.
Jesus is the Perfect Friend
I have many wonderful friends who listen to me, pray for me, and show up to help me at all sorts of inconvenient times. They share their lives with me as well as include me in their pain and celebrations. Their friendship affirms to me that I am valuable and wanted.
As I studied these verses, I realized what a privilege it is to have Jesus as my friend. His friendship is deep, satisfying, and fulfilling. He understands me better than I often understand myself. In addition, He always wants to be with me and that boggles my mind.
Jesus is our constant companion who continually and generously offers us love, time, wisdom, encouragement, and help. He fulfills all the characteristics of a good friend, regardless of how good a friend we are to Him. Our Lord is the best friend we could ever desire.
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