Tuesday, 10 January 2017

THE BIBLE AND FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD (Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
Call: +2348037346939 E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com
 
THE BIBLE AND FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD

Devotional Text: James 2:23

Introduction:
The Holy Scripture shows that Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God, (James 2:23). Similarly, Jesus said to his disciples, “henceforth I call you not servant; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” (John 15:15). The obvious truth in the above citations is that nothing would have given birth to the conferment of this “divine appellation” if not love which developed as a result of deep God-man relationships. Therefore, this Bible lesson seeks to throw up a challenge that serves as a motivation that could stir the people into an uncompromising relationship with the Lord.

GENERAL REMARKS
(1)     Friendship with the Lord comes by believing Him from the deepest part of the heart, (James 2:23)
(2)     Jesus called His disciples friends because they yielded to Him totally and wholeheartedly (John 15:15)
(3)     The difference between a servant and a friend is that a friend knows what his friend (or Lord)
does, but a servant does not know, (vs. 15)
(4)     The Scripture shows that the Lord demonstrated the intimacy of friendship when He said,”shall I hide
from Abraham that thing which I do?” (Gen. 18:17)
FRIENDSHIP WITH THE LORD COMES BY BELIEVING HIM DEEPLY IN THE HEART
The Scriptural expression, “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness”, and he was called the friend of God” (James 2:23) readily shows that it takes a hearty trust in the Lord to become His friend. To believe is to accept that someone is telling the truth, and to trust is to repose confidence on someone. So, Abraham really believed the promise of God, as well as placed his confidence on Him. In other words, Abraham trusted the Lord without wavering. Thus, he pleased Him by his faith, since it is impossible to please God without faith, (Heb.11:6). This, therefore, presents a very strong point of challenge to everyone who says he believes in Christ in today’s Christianity. For, by faith:
(i)                   Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance obeyed: and he went out, not knowing where he went, (Heb. 11:8)
(ii)                 He sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise (vs. 9)
(iii)                Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac and he that had received the promise offered
 up his only begotten son, (vs. 17)
In line with the foregoing, this lesson asks, where is your faith, (Heb. 10:38; 11:6)? Where is your obedience, (vs. 6; Deut. 28)? Where I your long suffering, (Heb. 10:36-37)? Where is your sacrifice, (Heb. 11:17; Rom. 12:1-2)? Where is your hospitality, (Gen. 18:1-8; Heb. 13:2)? And, where is your love for the needy, (James 2:15-16)?
FRIENDSHIP WITH THE LORD IS MAINTAINED BY HOLY RELATIONSHIP
The call, “be ye holy, for I am holy”, is a call to holy relationship, without which no one would have any dealing with the Lord. This call was first to the Old Testament believers (Lev. 15:45), and then, to those of the New Testament, (1 Peter 1:15-16). God is holy, and without holiness, no one will see Him (Heb. 12:14) really means that one cannot relate with the Lord without keeping oneself holy. Therefore, to become a friend of God, one must be holy. For, all through history, He gives His prophecies through holy men, (1 Peter 1:21). His commandments are holy (2 Peter 2:21). He works with holy prophets,  (2 Peter 3:2). And, He also works with holy women who trust in Him, (1 Peter 3:5), as holiness is the very essence of His person, and so, no holiness, no friendship with the Lord. To this end, this lesson asserts that the individual who desires to be a friend of God must:
(i)       Keep himself holy, (Lev. 11:45; 1 Peter 1:16)
(ii)     Ensure that his conversations are holy ((vs. 15)
(iii)    Present his body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, (Rom. 12:1-2).
FRIENDSHIP WITH THE LORD GIVES ONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW HIS PLANS
The Word of the Lord …”shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” (Gen.18:17) is one of the Holy Scriptures that show God’s willingness to reveal His plans to those who closely walk with Him. Surely, the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets, (Amos 3:7). No one reveals his plans to his enemies and God does not, too, and so, it becomes unthinkable that He could reveal His plans to those who He cannot properly relate with. Jesus was in a deep and trustworthy friendship with His disciples before He could say to them, “henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant does not know what his lord does: but I have called you friends: for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known to you”, (John 15:15). This brings to the fore that God:
(i)             Reveals His plans to those who are in friendship with Him, (vs. 15; Gen. 18:17)
(ii)           Hides nothing from those in holy and friendly relationship with Him, (Amos 3:7)
(iii)          One becomes His friend if one does whatsoever He commands one to do (John 5:14)
In conclusion, please note that friendship with the Lord is a holy one, and Abraham, the father of faith was best at it (James 2:23) as the disciples of Jesus became the New Testament examples, (John 15:15). But, the crux of the matter is that one who must be a friend of God, must be wiling to do His commandments, (vs. 14). ENDEAVOUR TO BECOME HIS FRIEND TODAY!


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