Are You a Friend of God?

Prayer – Lord, You are a wonderful friend and I long to spend more time with You. Want to go for a walk…or just chat while sitting by the fireplace with a cup of coffee or tea? I read in Your book today that You, Jesus Christ restored my friendship with God the Father by Your sacrificial death. Thank You for Your love and obedience.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 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 5:6-11 (Underlined for emphasis.)

 

Meditate. Are you a “friend” of God?

 

An old bridge
Near Multnomah Falls, Oregon
A bridge that has endured time.
A bridge like an old friend.

How do you build, support, improve or grow your relationships with your friends? Keeping in touch and spending time with them is probably the best way that I maintain friendships. Over the years as we’ve moved or my focus in life has changed, I’ve lost touch with some friends…and they’ve become acquaintances. Sad to say…I have lost some friends—they moved, died, changed churches, or with job schedules we just lost touch. The friends that really matter are the ones that I spend time with chatting on the phone, sharing meals, walking, hiking, kayaking, writing, studying the Bible, or taking a class together like watercolors or pottery. Spending time is the key. Building those bridges—like God did. Restoring our relationship—our friendship—with God was done by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus obediently went to the cross to provide a sacrifice for our sin. We aren’t expected to actually die to do our part in the restoration of our friendship with God, but for our part we are given the opportunity to choose to believe in Jesus as our Savior…and to be faithful to God, or not. Friendship is a two-way commitment and God has already taken care of His part. He leaves us to choose for ourselves if we are willing to obediently follow Him daily and be part of this new wonderful relationship. Have you chosen to be part of a growing connection with God or strengthen that bond with Him daily? Jesus said...

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. Revelation 3:20-21

Friends eat meals together—sharing their favorite foods and their lives. Are you a friend of God?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great! Psalm 40:16

 

© 2023 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. 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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