Saturday, July 3, 2021

Are You a Friend of God?

Meditate. What does it take to be a friend...to have a friendship?

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:8-11

we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ….we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Our relationship with God and His Son Jesus Christ makes us friends of God. Wow! Are you overwhelmed just by that thought? We are not alone. Friendship with God began a long time ago with Abraham.

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

What does it take to be a friend…to have a friendship?

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 17:17

Another translation says that a friend loves at all times. Do you always love God…and are loyal to Him? What are you doing to build up that friendship—that relationship? Are you getting to know Him better every day? Are you allowing Him access to your deepest thoughts and living to please Him? He would like that!

In my daily devotional, Parenting Day by Day – Daily Devotional for Building Character – I listed some tips for making friends—for building relationships with others. For more details see Training Tips on the October 13 devotion or visit the October 13, 2013 devotion on the Banquet With The King website blog.

1. Be available
2. Be part of a group or club
3. Say nice things to others
4. Set a target
5. Smile a lot
6. Make friends with friends of friends
7. Be aware of cultural differences
8. Be happy with those who are rejoicing and comfort those who mourn

Simply, be a friend to make a friend. Can you do that with God, as well as with other people? A good place to begin is in prayer…to draw closer to God and to others.

Prayer ~ Dear Jesus, we praise You. Please continue to cover our home with Your love and friendship and guide us as we make friends with others, sharing Your love.

Verses of Salvation ~ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:8-11

Bible Trivia Answer to the Question: What was “The Hand Writing On The Wall?” When did that happen? What was written? What did it mean?

The answer is found in Daniel 5:24-28. The handwriting on the wall occurred during the Jewish exile in Babylon at a dinner banquet given by King Belshazzar when gold bowls and cups taken from the Temple in Jerusalem were used in idol worship. The hand writing was a message from God.

"This is the message that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN. This is what these words mean: [Mene] means 'numbered'--God has numbered the days of your reign and has brought it to an end. [Tekel] means 'weighed'--you have been weighed on the balances and have not measured up. [Parsin] means 'divided'--your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians." Daniel 5:25-28

That was the end of the Babylonia empire and since it was invaded and divided that night.

Bible Trivia Question for next week ~ To whom was Jesus speaking when He said…"I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” John 11:25

Think health, not disease


© 2021 Text, photos and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

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