I’ve been thinking for a couple of months
about the words friend and friendship.
What does it mean Biblically or spiritually? What did Jesus teach about
being a friend? This next month or so I want to focus on what it means to be a
friend…and what it takes to develop a friendship. I’ve asked some people where
they find their friends…and I’m contemplating why friendships last…or don’t. What
are the qualities of a friend? What does it take to be a good friend…or to have
a good friend? There are books and books about this…but I still want to see
what God has to say to me…and to each person who is reading this blog. Let me
know what you think about the topic of friends.
 |
| Abram's mode of transportation from Ur to Canaan. |
Who is a friend of God? One of the first
people mentioned in the Bible associated with the word friend is Abraham. He was
even called the friend of God. Why
was he considered a friend of God? Was it due to his obedience? Remember Abram
(Abraham’s pre-God experience name) and Sarai (Sarah), his wife, left the region
of Ur of the Chaldeans along with Abram’s father, Terah, and nephew, Lot, and
headed for Canaan—the land promised by God. (See Genesis 11-12.) After Terah
died, Abram received God’s promise. “I
will make of you a great nation and I will bless you.” Genesis 12:2. God
hadn’t given any of Abram’s ancestors…Adam and Eve or Noah any such promise.
But He looked at Abram and saw a righteous man—a man of integrity. A man who
could be trusted to listen and obey and who trusted God for the future.
Consider the challenges that Abram faced
traveling to a new country, famines and unknown situations like a Pharaoh who
thought Sarai was Abram’s sister. Abram was not very forthright about his
relationship to Sarai a couple of times—but God protected them…and thus
protected the future Hebrew people. That is one of the things friends do for
each other—protect each other. God kept His promise to Abram that He would make
him a great nation—but Abram and Sarai did not have any children at that time. Still
God promised to bless them. He had a
plan…and Abram and Sarai were part of that plan.
Do you trust God to provide for you…to be
your God?
Prayer
~ Lord God…Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not
abandon those who search for you. Psalm 9:10. May You fill my heart and life
with confidence in You…like that of Abram…as I search for You with all my
heart, mind, and soul.
Daily
Bible Reading: Luke 1; John 1
If you are following this daily Bible
reading plan, you will note that we have finished reading the entire Old
Testament and beginning today we are starting the New Testament. Congratulate
yourself if you are up to date on this reading plan! Well done!
© 2018 photo and
text by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
Follow And Like
"Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍
No comments:
Post a Comment