FRIEND OF GOD

 

John 15:14, 15 (NKJV)

“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”  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.”

I googled the question, “What is the true definition of a friend”?  This is what I found.  “The definition of a true friend is someone who has your back, no matter what they watch out for you and ensure you are not in danger.  They will never purposely lead you into making decisions that aren’t good for you.  A true friend will always have your best interest at heart.”  

Our core scripture defines a friend of God as someone who ‘does what Christ commands’. There is even a song called “I Am A Friend of God” by Israel Houghton.  My question today is, are you a friend of God?  Can He depend on you to always authentically represent Him and do as He “commands?”  Can He depend on you to be “salt and light” in this world where there is so much darkness.  Can He rest assured that you will stand for truth and righteousness when confronted with injustice and sin?  Can He be confident that when confronted with a situation or person trying to destroy your reputation & integrity that your response will reflect Him.  Will your response mirror the way He faced those challenges while He walked the earth?  Can others tell by your words, actions, reactions and demeanor that you even know or have spent time in His presence?

What if you were summoned  “to a court” with God presiding and  the charge was that “you loved your neighbor as yourself?”  Would there be enough evidence to convict you?  When someone asks for your honest opinion, do you tell them what you think they want to hear or are you actually honest and tell them the truth? If a cashier gives you too much change, do you give it back or put it in your pocket then call it a blessing?  If someone tries to share some gossip with you, do you listen or do you stop them? Or, would you listen, then call somebody else to tell them under the guise of “I’m not talking about them. I’m just telling you that somebody needs to pray for them?”  When the Holy Spirit brings someone to your mind, do you reach out to or pray for them?

Certainly Christ has always been and continues to be a true friend to us as evidenced in many places in the Scripture.  If you go by our definition of friend at the beginning, then Christ has certainly proven that He is our friend because He “has your back (Isaiah 52:12c,d), watches out for you (Psalm 91:11), never misleads you (John 16:13), and always has your best interest at heart (Jeremiah 29:11).”

Romans 5:7a reads “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die:..”    Even though each one of us was born in sinful flesh with a sinful nature, Christ willingly died for us (John 10:18a,b), in advance of the sins that we were going to commit in the future.  In the words of Christ,  “I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:11 (NKJV)“

Challenge:  For the remainder of the week, be intentional in your conversation and actions to reflect Christ and your “friendship” with Him.  May others see His reflection in your life and be drawn to Him as you lift Him up.

Blessings.

~CWP~