It is amazing and wonderful to know that the creator of the universe has friends amongst the people he has created in his own image. It is also heartening to know that he still wants to make more friends. Many will want to make friends with the presidents of nations, ambassadors or affluent people of good reputation. These people however have limited capacity to accommodate all those who want to befriend them. The all powerful, invincible, all knowing, supreme, excellent, unlimited, infinite and all pervading God has the capacity to accommodate you. His invitation is opened to whosoever is willing. There is however one condition that needs to be fulfilled before you can be one of his friends.
John 15:14-15: “You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
As we can see from the above passage, the condition to be fulfilled in order to be a friend of God is obedience to him. Disobedience drives us away from the presence of God while obedience draws us closer to him. When we are away from God’s presence, we become vulnerable to the enemy.
Psalm 91:1: “He who dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
Disobedience drew Jonah away from God and he ended up in the belly of a fish. When we don’t obey God we are rubbed of our authority over the works of the enemy.
James 4:7: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
What has God told you to do? Has he told you to be more committed to him? Has he told you that the only way to him is through Jesus Christ? Has he told you to make that phone call? Has he told you to humble yourself and forgive that person who has offended you? Has he told you to go back to your first love? Has he told you to relate in love to your wicked boss at work? Has he told you to break off from that unhealthy relationship? Do you walk with him and rely on him daily? It is wise to do whatsoever he has asked you to do because he is wiser than you.
John 2:5: “His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Many love the Lord but are still struggling in the area of disobedience. Actually, it takes the grace of God to live a life of obedience. The grace of God is very essential to live a life pleasing to him. Grace is the divine ability to do the things you cannot do by your own strength or ability. Grace is a gift that comes from God and we can have more of his grace in times of need. The word of God says that more grace is multiplied unto us as we increase in the knowledge of God. The more we know him, the more grace we receive to live an obedient life. The more obedient we are, the closer our relationship will be with him.
2 Peter 1:2: “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
We get to know God more by spending time with him. Learn to be still and focus on his love. Staying in a quite place and listening to good worship music is usually helpful. In that stillness you will hear his voice. Learn to talk to him about everything, “the good, the bad and the ugly.” Study his word regularly and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. Learn to appreciate him by praising and worshipping him.
John 10:27: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
It is in God’s presence that we receive the divine enablement and the desire to live a life of obedience. Intimacy with God increases our knowledge of him. More grace is released to us from his presence and obedience comes from us effortlessly. Obeying him comes naturally from us because God’s divine nature has rubbed on us from his presence. We can then say with the psalmist that all our desire is to be in his presence.
Psalm 27:4: “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.
Make the decision today to be one of God’s friends. Enjoy his presence daily and live a life that glorifies his name.
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