Meditate
on this:
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
I’ve been thinking for a couple of months
about the word “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.
 |
| Desert Crossing Abraham's friend as they traveled to the Promised Land Israel |
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 into Abram’s heart and saw a righteous man—a man of integrity. A
man who could be trusted to listen and obey; one 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. Abram and Sarai were part of that plan.
Do you trust God to provide for you…to be
your God? Is He your friend…are you His friend?
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: Matthew 4; Luke 4-5
© 2019 Text and
photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
Unless
otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers,
Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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