Tuesday, July 29, 2014
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
YOU'VE BEEN FRIENDED
Most of you, no doubt, know what it is to "friend" someone. Up until the age of social media, "friend" was only a noun. But in 2010 the Oxford Dictionary also offered a definition for it as a verb meaning to add someone to a list of acquaintances on social networking sites such as Facebook. I also learned that the average Facebook user has 120 "friends." So whom have you friended--family, co-workers, classmates, neighbors, teammates? Whoever it is, there is always a reason for it, right? You wouldn't just friend anyone.
Long before Facebook, God "friended" someone. We read in James 2:23: "'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness' and he was called God's friend." How incredible to actually be called God's friend! Friendship implies a close, caring bond. We like to be with friends. There is heartfelt concern for a friend's well-being and a willingness to help a friend in any way possible. What a blessing to receive all that from God Himself!
That blessing is ours too, not because of who we are, but because of who God is. Abraham didn't do anything to impress God or earn His friendship. Not at all. It was all God's doing. In His grace He promised Abraham a son through whom God's own Son would be born into the world to save sinners. Abraham believed the Lord's word, and by faith God counted him as righteous before Him. By faith Abraham was at peace with God and His friend.
By faith in Christ's holy life and suffering and death on the cross, we are judged righteous before God. "The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). The Lord is our Friend whose love will never waver. He will never "unfriend" us. Nothing can "separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39). "Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me" (Psalm 27:10).
Being friended by God changes everything! "If God is for us, who can be against us?" We can meet each day trusting the Lord's care and anticipating countless blessings from His hand.
Who wouldn't want to spend time with a Friend like that? Set aside time today for the Lord and His Word. Talk with Him in prayer and share His friendship with others.
