Become God's Friend

Become God's Friend (4) 12 Apr 2011


''..."I have called you friends"...'' John 15:15


Another step in developing your friendship with God is choosing to be honest with Him! God doesn't expect you to be perfect, but He does expect you to be honest. If perfection was a requirement not one of us would qualify. In the Bible, God's friends were honest about their feelings - sometimes even complaining and arguing with Him - yet He didn't seem to mind.

In fact, He encouraged it. God listened patiently to David's accusations of unfairness, betrayal and abandonment. He didn't zap Jeremiah for claiming God had tricked him. Job was allowed to vent his bitterness and God actually defended him for being honest. On the other hand, He rebuked Job's friends for faking it: '..."You haven't been honest either with me or about me - not the way my friend Job has... My friend Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer"' (Job 42:7 TM).

To be God's friend you must share your true feelings with Him, not what you think you ought to feel or say. Until you understand that God uses everything for good in our lives, you'll harbour resentment towards Him over your looks, your nationality, your economic background, your unanswered prayers, your past hurts, and the things you'd change if you were God.

Actually, revealing your feelings and releasing your resentments to Him are the first steps to becoming spiritually whole. Isn't it encouraging to know that God's closest friends felt just like we do, but instead of masking their feelings in pious clich?s they voiced them openly? Why? Because expressing them leads to healing and a deeper level of intimacy with Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you that you have called us friends, and we thank you that you see whats truly in our hearts. May we come to you in all humility and humbleness about whats in our hearts, we ask that you rebuke the evil, and fill it with your goodness. In your sons name we pray. Amen