A Puzzling Encounter
It was a crisp autumn morning when I arrived early at the church building to prepare for the weekly service.
As I walked through the quiet hallways, I couldn’t help but overhear a rather peculiar conversation coming from the nursery area.
Peeking in, I saw little Jenny, barely 4 years old, kneeling by herself in a corner, hands clasped together.
“Hi God, it’s me again,” she whispered, looking up with innocent, trusting eyes. “Thanks for making such a pretty day…”
My heart melted at the tender scene of this tiny child speaking so familiarly with her Maker. Yet, a nagging thought tugged at my mind – when was the last time I had talked to God like that, as a close friend?
In that moment, I realized how easily we can lose the simple intimacy of relating to God as a caring Father who delights in our friendship.
The busyness of ministry, the theological debates, the pursuit of spiritual growth – all noble aims, but sometimes at the cost of the pure, unguarded fellowship little Jenny modeled so beautifully.
That puzzling encounter sparked me on a journey to rediscover the depths of friendship with the God the Bible reveals. And what an adventure it has been!
What is a True Friend?
To understand friendship with God, we must first grasp what biblical friendship looks like.
True friends are marked by an unwavering, self-sacrificial love that transcends circumstances (Proverbs 17:17). They offer caring rebuke and believe in each other’s potential (Proverbs 27:6,17).
Most essentially, real friends share an intimate knowledge of each other’s inmost thoughts, dreams, and struggles:
“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.”
John 15:15 (NKJV)
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The Scriptures give us striking examples of this type of divine-human friendship. Despite his flaws, Abraham was called God’s “friend” because of the closeness of their relationship.
“And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.”
James 2:23 (NKJV)
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God spoke face-to-face with Moses “as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11).
How incredible! The Almighty Creator wants that level of openness and trust with His creation.
Could you imagine having a friend like that? One who fully knows you yet loves you unconditionally? One you could freely open your heart to without fear of rejection?
This is the heart of friendship with God.
Jesus Demonstrated True Friendship
While the Old Testament saints glimpsed this blessed intimacy with God, Jesus ultimately revealed its supreme expression through His life and teachings.
On the night before His crucifixion, with tender awareness that “His hour had come,” Jesus exemplified friendship in its purest form (John 13:1).
With actions steeped in humility and love, He washed His disciples’ dirt-caked feet – a task reserved for the lowest servant.
Can you envision the Maker of the Universe, the Lord of all, gently caressing your feet in this way as if to say, “You are precious and dear to Me”? That’s the depth of friendship Jesus offered.
Reclining together over the Passover meal, Christ opened His heart to these first friends:
“…I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
John 15:15 (NKJV)
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No holding back. No condescension from the Master to the learners. Just the raw intimacy of shared lives and shared futures.
This is the Gospel at its core – through the cross, Jesus purchased for us not merely forgiveness, but entry into God’s own friendship circle.
As the Apostle Paul wrote, we have been “reconciled to God through the death of His Son” with the purpose of experiencing that reunited relationship as “friends of God” (Romans 5:10-11).
Cultivating Friendship with God
So how do we mature in this offered intimacy? How do we become not just casual acquaintances of God, but His genuine, close friends as Jesus was?
It begins by humbly receiving and reciprocating the unconditional love that God continually extends (1 John 4:19). While we were still sinners, Christ died for us – that’s how much we are cherished (Romans 5:8).
In response, we simply open our lives in transparency to Him, holding nothing back. Like close companions, we share our fears, our desires, and our confusion.
We delight in spending time together through prayer, worship, and studying His Word.
Jesus further taught that the pathway to intimacy is through obeying His commands, obeying out of a heart of love rather than duty (John 15:14).
When we discern and joyfully follow God’s instructions for our lives, it cements the mutual understanding and trust definitive of all close friendships.
However, there is one command that unlocks the fullness of friendship with God:
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
John 15:12 (NKJV)
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You see, to relate closely with God, we must also embrace His family as our own – every brother and sister in Christ. We cannot profess friendship with God while living in alienation and contempt toward His other friends!
Practically, this looks like bearing one another’s burdens, just as Christ bore ours (Galatians 6:2). It means being patient with people’s flaws and failures, extending the same grace we received from God (Ephesians 4:2).
It involves sharing our material blessings, waiting on one another, and serving with tender compassion – all expressions of the selfless love that hallmarks God’s own friendship (1 Corinthians 11:33).
Are you seeing a pattern? Friendship with God is intimately linked with friendship with God’s people.
We cannot have one without the other. As we give ourselves in care for the Body of Christ, we are inevitably drawn into deeper intimacy with its Head, Jesus Himself.
The Blessings of Being God’s Friend
So what are the rewards of cultivating this precious friendship? First, we gain insight into the heart and future plans of God Himself!
Just as the Lord would not hide His doings from His “friend” Abraham (Genesis 18:17), He will increasingly draw us into His secret counsel, speaking to us “face to face” (Exodus 33:11).
We become His confidants and co-laborers, entrusted with profound revelations of His eternal purposes for the world.
Beyond that, the Scriptures promise unspeakable and overflowing joy for those who walk in sweet companionship with Christ:
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
John 15:11 (NKJV)
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The abundant life of peace, strength, provision, and miracles flows from the fountain of God’s intimate friendship.
Even trials take on new meaning as our caring Friend allows them to further purify our trust in His love.
Most permanent of all, the friends of God inherit eternal glory and security under His loving protection.
Jesus asserted to His disciples:
“14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you 15 …I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
John 15:14-15 (NKJV)
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Death cannot sever this bond – it merely ushers the friends of God into His everlasting, face-to-face Presence.
Key Takeaways
- God earnestly desires an intimate friendship with each of His children, one of complete openness, loyalty, and shared lives/purposes.
- Jesus’ life and teachings exemplified the depths of this divine friendship, extending it to all who follow Him.
- Growing in friendship with God involves treasuring His love, obeying His Word, opening our lives to Him in vulnerability, and loving His people as He loved us.
- This close walk grants profound insight into God’s heart, unspeakable joy, miracles, eternal security, and the inheritance of His eternal friendship.
Do you want to experience the richness of this eternal companionship?
The invitation remains open, awaiting your humble acceptance. God is calling you, right now, to be His friend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Isn’t calling God a “friend” too casual or disrespectful?
A. Not at all! While God is certainly our Lord, Creator, and King deserving of reverence, He delights in inviting us into an intimate father-child relationship as His beloved friends.
The very titles God uses for Himself – Father, Husband, Friend – convey His desire for closeness, not distance. Jesus Himself told His disciples, “I have called you friends.” (John 15:15).
Q. If I’ve sinned terribly, can I still be God’s friend?
A. Absolutely! God’s friendship is not based on our perfection but on His grace through Christ.
The Bible says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” because of God’s great love (Romans 5:8). No sin is too terrible for God’s forgiveness when we turn to Him in repentance and faith.
Think of examples like Moses the murderer, David the adulterer, or Paul the Christian persecutor – all became beloved friends of God after encountering His redeeming grace.
God’s heart is always to restore the broken friendship through the cross of Jesus.
Q. How can I develop a stronger friendship with God daily?
A. Nurturing intimacy with God requires the same habits as any close friendship – spending quality time together, being open and honest, and making the friendship a priority.
Practical steps include: having a consistent prayer time, meditating on Scripture, being part of a Bible-believing church, repenting of sin quickly, and obeying the Spirit’s leading each day.
Ultimately it’s about making your heart’s focus to know God and be known by Him.
Q. Does friendship with God mean I’ll never experience suffering or trials?
A. Not necessarily. Even the closest friends can experience painful circumstances while knowing the friend’s heart is good. God may allow difficulties to deepen our trust in His love and wisdom.
However, He promises the eternal joys of His friendship will far outweigh any temporal pains (2 Corinthians 4:17). God’s aim is to use all things, even suffering, to make us true friends who overcome alongside Him.
Q. What’s the difference between being God’s friend and God’s servant?
A. While all believers are called to serve God, friendship implies a deeper level of intimacy, trust, and shared purpose. Jesus said:
“No longer do I call you servants…but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
John 15:15 (NKJV)
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Servants obey out of duty, but friends obey out of love, sharing the Master’s heart and being brought into His confidence.
Friendship elevates our relationship with God beyond that of a master-servant dynamic.
