FRIENDS WITH GOD!
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15, R.S.V.
Friends! To call someone your friend is to be willing to be identified personally with that individual. This is different from just being friends to someone--that can denote a certain amount of condescension and a definite separation of your persons. To say that someone is your friend is to say that you not only like him, you trust him.
I am Jesus' friend! If He were still here on this earth, He would seek me out so that we could spend time together. I know that, before long, our conversation would center upon the Father, for that is what Jesus likes best to talk about. And as we spoke together He would share with me the things that the Father wants me to hear (John 17:8). He would remind me that the Father Himself loves me (Chap. 16:27). As He continued to speak I would begin to understand: The Father considers me His friend, too!
To be Jesus' friend is a wonderful thing. Why, we know that even little children are safe with Him. We know that when Jesus was here He made Himself available to mankind. He was touchable, reachable--but as to God the Father...
When I first began to conjure a picture of God in my mind, He was always seated in a heavy oak chair beside an equally imposing desk, with a bookcase full of thick dark books that reached to the ceiling as the backdrop. At my approach He would turn His majestic head in my direction. Though I could never mentally fill in the details of His face, He was not smiling. I knew He accepted me, even cared deeply for me, but I felt it was strictly because of Christ. I'd never stand a chance if it weren't for His intercession. It had nothing to do with God liking me.
My picture of God has changed. The heaviness and darkness are gone. In my mind, He is out of doors, the wind gently blowing at His garments. As I approach He moves quickly and eagerly toward me. Though I still cannot fill in the details of His face, He is smiling. Even more, I can almost hear Him saying, "I've been waiting for you! I've so much to share with you!"
I am God's friend!
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15, R.S.V.
Friends! To call someone your friend is to be willing to be identified personally with that individual. This is different from just being friends to someone--that can denote a certain amount of condescension and a definite separation of your persons. To say that someone is your friend is to say that you not only like him, you trust him.
I am Jesus' friend! If He were still here on this earth, He would seek me out so that we could spend time together. I know that, before long, our conversation would center upon the Father, for that is what Jesus likes best to talk about. And as we spoke together He would share with me the things that the Father wants me to hear (John 17:8). He would remind me that the Father Himself loves me (Chap. 16:27). As He continued to speak I would begin to understand: The Father considers me His friend, too!
To be Jesus' friend is a wonderful thing. Why, we know that even little children are safe with Him. We know that when Jesus was here He made Himself available to mankind. He was touchable, reachable--but as to God the Father...
When I first began to conjure a picture of God in my mind, He was always seated in a heavy oak chair beside an equally imposing desk, with a bookcase full of thick dark books that reached to the ceiling as the backdrop. At my approach He would turn His majestic head in my direction. Though I could never mentally fill in the details of His face, He was not smiling. I knew He accepted me, even cared deeply for me, but I felt it was strictly because of Christ. I'd never stand a chance if it weren't for His intercession. It had nothing to do with God liking me.
My picture of God has changed. The heaviness and darkness are gone. In my mind, He is out of doors, the wind gently blowing at His garments. As I approach He moves quickly and eagerly toward me. Though I still cannot fill in the details of His face, He is smiling. Even more, I can almost hear Him saying, "I've been waiting for you! I've so much to share with you!"
I am God's friend!
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