Craving Community - How the Gospel Helps You Cultivate Faithful FriendshipsSample

Scripture tells us about a man named Abraham who was called God’s friend (James 2:23). What exactly would it take to be called the friend of the one who made everything? This: Abraham believed God. That’s it.

When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, Abraham obeyed (Genesis 22). He trusted God to either provide another sacrifice or bring Isaac back from the dead. Abraham displayed a firm belief in God’s character. He believed that God was a trustworthy, gracious provider. He believed that God was exactly who He claimed to be. For this reason, God called Abraham righteous, and He called him His friend.

As Jesus went to the cross, He displayed the same type of faith that Abraham had. He trusted in His Father’s character and in His will. Because we sinned against God, we were cut off from Him and forfeited friendship with Him. Yet, in His kindness, He chose to send Jesus to bring us back into union with Him. The work of Jesus is enough to bring us a friendship that is more pure than any earthly friendship that we could ever fathom.

The apostle Paul warned the Galatian churches of the dangers of a lack of faith (Galatians 1:8–9). God’s friendship is not something that we can buy with our actions. It is a gift we receive through faith (Ephesians 2:8). This is why we cannot brag about what we have done to gain friendship with God—it is something He gives to us through our belief in Him.

Friendship with God is a free gift; therefore, His friendship is freeing—because we did not work to earn it, we do not have to work to keep it. There will be times when we struggle with sin and fail to meet the standards of God’s holiness. But He is the Friend who stays.

How does knowing that God’s friendship is a gift help us to rest in Him?