KEY SCRIPTURE: John 15:14 KJV” Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

Throughout the scriptures, one person, who was described as the friend of God was Abraham. James 2:23 KJV “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God”. Indeed, it is a great privilege to be called the friend of God. Friendship is not just an ordinary association. Friendship is more or less a relationship. Friendship normally brings to the fore a covenant relationship. In such a relationship each party owns what is his pal’s. We may not see this in our earthly friendships, but in God’s concept, a friend is a covenant brother.

In God’s friendship with Abraham, the Lord God quickly intervened when King Abimelech took Sarah to have her as his wife because Abraham said she was his sister.  Gen 20:3 KJV” But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife”. Despite Abraham’s error, because of fear for his life, the Lord God still came in to save Sarah from being defiled. God made all the females in the Land barren. When the Lord demanded Abraham to sacrifice his lovely son Isaac for Him; He also obeyed without any reservation.

If the Lord Jesus says we are His friends, then we must understand, this is a covenant relationship. This demands we are ready to do everything to please Him.  Nothing becomes too expensive or costly to lose for Him. Our lives are not too dear to be given to honour Him if the occasion so demands. He showed His love and His faithfulness in maintaining that friendship by dying for us. He is also ready to do everything that we may need. Rom 8:32 KJV” He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” This verse assures us that God has in actual fact given us every answer to whatever need we may be having.

What then is our responsibility to Him as His friends? We must lovingly dedicate our lives to honour Him always. When we live in defiance of His word, then we are actually breaking that friendship.

THOUGHT: THE EXECUTION OF OUR FRIENDSHIP TO JESUS, DEPENDS MORE ON US; THAT IS OUR FAITHFULNESS TO HIM.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 14:21 KJV” He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

2Corinth 5:14 KJV” For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:”