O our God, did you not drive out those who
lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this
land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? 2 Chronicles
20:7
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, spoke to the
people of Judah before the Temple in Jerusalem and prayed this prayer…this
scripture…to God. He called Abraham a friend of God. Other places in the Bible
note that same thing—as I wrote on October 1st in this blog.
But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my
chosen one, descended from Abraham my friend…. Isaiah 41:8
And so it happened just as the 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
God and Abraham didn’t start out to be “friends” but their relationship
developed into a friendship. What does it take to be a friend of God? Obedience. That was what Abraham offered to his
friendship with God. God offered the Promised Land…here on earth and in heaven.
God showed Abraham the night sky filled with stars and said that Abraham would
have that many descendants someday. Without any children at that point in his
life, Abraham just had to trust God for His promise. Do you think that he may
have doubted God? His wife Sarai, later known as Sarah, certainly did. She laughed. She
was an old woman—and who’d thought that she could have a child? God did. Never
doubt. Anything is possible with God. That takes faith to believe. "Abraham believed God, and God counted
him as righteous because of his faith." So faith was part of their
relationship…and their friendship.
 |
| As you ride across the desert--never stop praying. |
What does it take to be a friend? Trust and
faith in each other. A willingness to spend time together. God and Abraham
spent time together. Imagine all that time that Abraham spent riding his camel
along the rivers and across the desert from Haran to the Promised Land (see
Genesis 11 and 12) as he obediently went where God told him to go. Do you think
Abraham talked to God along the way? We are told to pray constantly. That is “talking”
to God.
Always be joyful. Never stop praying.
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to
Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
You have to talk…and listen to those around
you to become friends. The same thing applies to becoming a friend of God.
What does it take to become of friend of God? Spend time with Him. Be
obedient to His Word and faithful to living the way He wants you to live. Like
Abraham, you’ll become known as a friend
of God.
Prayer
~ Lord God, continue to fill my heart, soul, mind and give me strength as I
seek to know You more…and become Your friend.
Daily
Bible Reading: Matthew 10
© 2018 photo and
text by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
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