Being A Friend of God
Becoming a Friend of God: What Does It Really Mean?
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be called a friend of God? Not just a believer, not just someone who attends church, but someone God knows intimately and calls His friend?
The answer might surprise you. It's not about perfection. It's not about having it all together. In fact, some of the people Scripture calls friends of God made spectacular mistakes.
The Friendship That Changes Everything
In Genesis 18:19, God speaks about Abraham in remarkable terms: "For I have known him." This isn't casual acquaintance. The Hebrew word used here describes a deep, intimate friendship—the kind of relationship you have with someone truly close to you, someone who knows you inside and out.
God said of Abraham that He knew him so well He could trust him to lead his family in righteousness and justice. This friendship wasn't based on Abraham's flawless record. After all, this is the same man who twice told kings his wife was his sister to save his own skin. Yet God still called him friend.
This should encourage us tremendously. Our past mistakes, our current struggles, our imperfections—none of these disqualify us from friendship with God. He already knows everything about us, and He still wants to draw near.
The Qualities of God's Friends
So what characterizes someone who becomes a friend of God? There are several defining traits worth examining.
Friends of God Please Him Through Faith
Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it's impossible to please God. Notice it doesn't say without perfect works or flawless behavior. Faith is the foundation. When we believe God's Word and live accordingly, we're walking in the kind of relationship He desires. We're not trying to earn anything through our efforts; we're simply trusting what He's already promised.
Friends of God Walk in Covenant
In Genesis 15, God cut a covenant with Abraham—a binding agreement that demonstrated commitment. God wants people who will commit to walking with Him, who will take His promises seriously and live them out. When we find what His Word says and choose to live it, we're entering into that covenant relationship.
Friends of God Are Obedient
When God told Abraham to leave his country and family for a land He would show him later, Abraham's response was simple: he departed. No argument. No negotiation. Just obedience.
This is challenging because obedience often requires us to move beyond our comfort zones. It might mean leaving what's familiar, pursuing a calling that doesn't make sense to others, or simply doing what God asks even when we don't fully understand why. But here's the truth: God knows what's best for us far better than we know ourselves.
Many people never discover what God really wants them to do because they're too busy living their own plans. Others find out but decide it's not what they want. The blessing of God follows obedience. When we surrender to His plans rather than insisting on our own, we position ourselves for His best.
Friends of God Are True Worshipers
Abraham built altars and called on the name of the Lord. He was a genuine worshiper, not someone going through religious motions. True worship means getting out of ourselves, out of our boxes and cages, and letting God move freely in our lives.
Worship isn't about performance or what others think. It's about surrendering everything to God with authenticity. When we worship with our whole hearts, we create space for God to work in us and through us in powerful ways.
Friends of God Avoid Strife
When conflict arose between Abraham's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen, Abraham chose peace over position. He gave Lot first choice of the land, even though it meant taking the less desirable territory for himself. Yet God blessed Abraham abundantly.
This principle is crucial: it's more important to stay out of strife than to have great possessions or be proven right. Peace and joy with less is far better than abundance with constant contention. When we refuse to engage in battles with others and remember that people aren't our enemy—the devil is—we protect ourselves from unnecessary suffering.
Friends of God Are Bold, Not Fearful
When Lot was kidnapped along with his family and possessions, Abraham didn't hesitate. He gathered his small army and went after them, successfully recovering everything. He didn't let fear stop him because he knew God was on his side.
Revelation warns that the fearful won't enter heaven. This isn't about never feeling afraid; it's about not letting fear dictate our actions. We need an "I can do all things through Christ" attitude. It doesn't matter what we think we lack—if God has called us to something, we can accomplish it. He's already stripped the enemy of power and given us authority.
Friends of God Are Generous
After his victory, Abraham gave a tithe of everything. This first mention of tithing in Scripture establishes a principle: friends of God are generous people. The tithe is just a starting place, not a ceiling.
Generosity extends beyond the church walls. There are hurting people all around us who need help. Sometimes what they need is material—food, clothing, assistance. Other times, they simply need a kind word, a smile, someone to notice them. Many people go days without anyone speaking kindly to them. A generous heart is always looking for opportunities to give what others need.
Leading With Integrity
For those raising families, friendship with God includes leading your household well. God said of Abraham that He knew him because Abraham would "command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice."
Leading a family isn't about being a dictator or being harsh. It's about guiding your children toward God with consistency, love, and integrity. Integrity means being honest, keeping your word, and being who you say you are. It means there's no disconnect between your public face and your private life.
When we live with integrity, teaching our children to walk with God, we're building a legacy that extends far beyond our own lives.
The Invitation Stands
The beautiful truth is that God wants to be your friend. He's not looking for perfect people—He's looking for people who will walk with Him in faith, obedience, and authenticity. He wants people who will lead their families well, avoid unnecessary conflict, be generous with what they have, and trust Him enough to be bold.
Your past doesn't disqualify you. Your weaknesses don't eliminate you. God already knows everything about you, and He's still extending the invitation to friendship.
The question isn't whether God wants to be your friend. The question is: will you accept the invitation?
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be called a friend of God? Not just a believer, not just someone who attends church, but someone God knows intimately and calls His friend?
The answer might surprise you. It's not about perfection. It's not about having it all together. In fact, some of the people Scripture calls friends of God made spectacular mistakes.
The Friendship That Changes Everything
In Genesis 18:19, God speaks about Abraham in remarkable terms: "For I have known him." This isn't casual acquaintance. The Hebrew word used here describes a deep, intimate friendship—the kind of relationship you have with someone truly close to you, someone who knows you inside and out.
God said of Abraham that He knew him so well He could trust him to lead his family in righteousness and justice. This friendship wasn't based on Abraham's flawless record. After all, this is the same man who twice told kings his wife was his sister to save his own skin. Yet God still called him friend.
This should encourage us tremendously. Our past mistakes, our current struggles, our imperfections—none of these disqualify us from friendship with God. He already knows everything about us, and He still wants to draw near.
The Qualities of God's Friends
So what characterizes someone who becomes a friend of God? There are several defining traits worth examining.
Friends of God Please Him Through Faith
Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it's impossible to please God. Notice it doesn't say without perfect works or flawless behavior. Faith is the foundation. When we believe God's Word and live accordingly, we're walking in the kind of relationship He desires. We're not trying to earn anything through our efforts; we're simply trusting what He's already promised.
Friends of God Walk in Covenant
In Genesis 15, God cut a covenant with Abraham—a binding agreement that demonstrated commitment. God wants people who will commit to walking with Him, who will take His promises seriously and live them out. When we find what His Word says and choose to live it, we're entering into that covenant relationship.
Friends of God Are Obedient
When God told Abraham to leave his country and family for a land He would show him later, Abraham's response was simple: he departed. No argument. No negotiation. Just obedience.
This is challenging because obedience often requires us to move beyond our comfort zones. It might mean leaving what's familiar, pursuing a calling that doesn't make sense to others, or simply doing what God asks even when we don't fully understand why. But here's the truth: God knows what's best for us far better than we know ourselves.
Many people never discover what God really wants them to do because they're too busy living their own plans. Others find out but decide it's not what they want. The blessing of God follows obedience. When we surrender to His plans rather than insisting on our own, we position ourselves for His best.
Friends of God Are True Worshipers
Abraham built altars and called on the name of the Lord. He was a genuine worshiper, not someone going through religious motions. True worship means getting out of ourselves, out of our boxes and cages, and letting God move freely in our lives.
Worship isn't about performance or what others think. It's about surrendering everything to God with authenticity. When we worship with our whole hearts, we create space for God to work in us and through us in powerful ways.
Friends of God Avoid Strife
When conflict arose between Abraham's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen, Abraham chose peace over position. He gave Lot first choice of the land, even though it meant taking the less desirable territory for himself. Yet God blessed Abraham abundantly.
This principle is crucial: it's more important to stay out of strife than to have great possessions or be proven right. Peace and joy with less is far better than abundance with constant contention. When we refuse to engage in battles with others and remember that people aren't our enemy—the devil is—we protect ourselves from unnecessary suffering.
Friends of God Are Bold, Not Fearful
When Lot was kidnapped along with his family and possessions, Abraham didn't hesitate. He gathered his small army and went after them, successfully recovering everything. He didn't let fear stop him because he knew God was on his side.
Revelation warns that the fearful won't enter heaven. This isn't about never feeling afraid; it's about not letting fear dictate our actions. We need an "I can do all things through Christ" attitude. It doesn't matter what we think we lack—if God has called us to something, we can accomplish it. He's already stripped the enemy of power and given us authority.
Friends of God Are Generous
After his victory, Abraham gave a tithe of everything. This first mention of tithing in Scripture establishes a principle: friends of God are generous people. The tithe is just a starting place, not a ceiling.
Generosity extends beyond the church walls. There are hurting people all around us who need help. Sometimes what they need is material—food, clothing, assistance. Other times, they simply need a kind word, a smile, someone to notice them. Many people go days without anyone speaking kindly to them. A generous heart is always looking for opportunities to give what others need.
Leading With Integrity
For those raising families, friendship with God includes leading your household well. God said of Abraham that He knew him because Abraham would "command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice."
Leading a family isn't about being a dictator or being harsh. It's about guiding your children toward God with consistency, love, and integrity. Integrity means being honest, keeping your word, and being who you say you are. It means there's no disconnect between your public face and your private life.
When we live with integrity, teaching our children to walk with God, we're building a legacy that extends far beyond our own lives.
The Invitation Stands
The beautiful truth is that God wants to be your friend. He's not looking for perfect people—He's looking for people who will walk with Him in faith, obedience, and authenticity. He wants people who will lead their families well, avoid unnecessary conflict, be generous with what they have, and trust Him enough to be bold.
Your past doesn't disqualify you. Your weaknesses don't eliminate you. God already knows everything about you, and He's still extending the invitation to friendship.
The question isn't whether God wants to be your friend. The question is: will you accept the invitation?
Posted in Sunday Sermon Blog
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