By Invitation

 “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.” James 2:23...."We don't choose to be friends of God. It's by invitation only." Henry Blackaby

There's a popular worship song with the lyric, "I am a friend of God, He calls me friend." I've heard it sung in a number of churches by a number of different people. I've sung it myself. The question is, are we, including myself, really His friends, and if so, who initiated the friendship?

Friendship is a casual term these days. It likely always has been to some degree, but our loyalties to one another don't go very deep anymore. The bond that sustains them oftentimes isn't very strong. On the earthly level, we choose our friends pretty casually, and discard them just as casually. That may be understandable in the world, but it's inexcusable in the church. Yet we've all seen, experienced, and even been a part of many broken friendships. We've seen how so often, the word friend carries little meaning to us. This isn't the case with the Father. That's why Blackaby's statement is both powerful and convicting. If being His friend can only happen through His invitation, how many of us have lived in such a way, in such a relationship as to be invited?

It was said of Abraham in several places in the Word that he was called God's friend by the Father Himself. The Bible also says that Moses spoke to God face to face, "as to a friend," Jesus told the disciples that they were His friends, "if they did as He commanded," and lived their lives wholly for Him. Abraham, Moses, Jacob, David, the disciples, Paul, and deeply spiritual and committed believers through the ages have been invited into His friendship. Is our life, our walk with Him worthy of that invitation?

It's true that His love reaches out to each of us, and it can't be said that He loves one more than another. His Word says He's no respecter of persons. Yet there are some who enter into an intimacy with Him that is far deeper and richer than others have, and that is the key; intimacy. Some thirst for such a connection to Him, but many more don't. There is a difference between honoring and loving Him for what He does for us, and doing so because of who He is. One sees Him as an object, the other as a Person. One is little more than an acquaintance, the other His intimate friend. Which is it for you and me?

Chris Tiegreen says that faith can be defined as "knowing the heart of the One you pray to." I think this can define friendship with Him as well. A friend knows His heart. Not just knows about His heart, but knows it because they've experienced His heart reality in their day to day living. This was what has marked the hearts and lives of those mentioned above, and others who have followed, like Wesley, Spurgeon, Moody, Tozer, Ravenhill, Sparks, on down to this day. Tozer said at the end of his life that he had found God to be an intimate, warm and loving friend. He had because he'd lived out a life of such intimacy with the Father. He'd been invited into friendship with God, and had accepted the invitation. Have we?

The invitation to enter into friendship with Him is given to each who believe upon His Son, Jesus Christ. Some accept, but too many don't. We're too preoccupied with ourselves and our own affairs. We run to Him in need and avoid Him most of the rest of the time, or if not avoiding Him, living mostly unaware of Him....until He's needed. We decline His invitation, and we'll not realize what we cost ourselves in that until that day we stand before Him.

We must all long to hear Him say on that day, "Well done, good and faithful servant." I do, but just as much, I long to be called His friend, now, and into eternity. He speaks the invitation, and I believe my heart hears and accepts the invite into intimacy with His. Does yours? Or, is being a casual acquaintance enough?

Blessings,

Pastor O