Friendship With Our Fatherಮಾದರಿ

Day 6: Believe God

When we talk about friendship, we definitely have to talk about trust. Friends are people we trust, and the stronger the friendship, the more we trust. We know trust doesn't develop overnight; it's the experiences and time spent with that friend that makes that trust develop. All the friends of God mentioned in the Bible were people who trusted God and enjoyed His trust. For example, Moses convinced God to not destroy the people of Israel, and because of his friendship with God, the very presence of God went with them instead of God sending an angel to accompany them. God heard Moses’s thoughts and his trust pleased Him.

Trust and faith have the same meaning biblically. Faith is another important tool when we talk about friendship with God. The Bible says we will be known by our fruit. All those mentioned in the Bible as friends of God were people of faith. Moses saw a sea divided because of his faith, and David managed to defeat Goliath because of his faith in God. As he said: 

• “Jehovah that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37 ASV) 

When we talk about faith, we need to talk about another of God's friends, Abraham. The Bible says: 

• “The scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.” (James 2:23 NIV) 

Believing in God the way Abraham did was not only credited to him as righteousness; it also made him a friend of God. The Bible says that without faith, it is impossible to please God because it is necessary to believe that He exists to approach Him. Having a friendship with God is a blessing few enjoy, and it is a responsibility that requires an important level of faith. Not everyone is asked to give up children; not everyone is asked to extend a stick without knowing what will happen. In the same way, not everyone ends up being friends with God. Walking on water can only be done by one who has a word from God and the faith to do so.

Today is an important day for you. God is calling you to be more than His servant. He is calling you to be His friend. That's going to require a special level of faith that will allow you to see and experience things few have experienced on earth—a genuine and fruitful faith, not a contrived faith, which is faith until the moment it is tested.

Meditation 

• How are you practicing your faith?
• God trusts you. Do you trust God?

Prayer 

Father, I am convinced the time has come to experience a special level of friendship with You. Help me act on faith when the time comes.