Friends

 And 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.....".....but I have called you friends." John 15:15......"You do not choose to be a friend of God. That's by invitation only." Henry Blackaby

There was a popular chorus a few years ago titled, "I Am A Friend Of God." I'm wondering if maybe it was a bit presumptuous on the part of the one who wrote the lyrics. It gives the impression that it is we who choose the relationship of being a friend of God. Nothing could be further from the truth. As Henry Blackaby writes, we can only enter into friendship with the Creator by His invitation, not by our initiation.

To be a friend of God, of Jesus Christ, we need to have shown ourselves to be trustworthy of such an honor and blessing. If we have no real understanding of what it means to truly be a friend, then it is very unlikely that we will be invited into real friendship with Him. Part of the proving ground of that is how we have treated and interacted with those we call "friends" here on earth. Especially as to how we have treated them within the church.

I loved the 90's comic strip, "Calvin and Hobbes." In one of the strips, Calvin's uncle comes to visit. He remarks on Calvin's relationship with his stuffed tiger, Hobbes. Calvin's mother replies that Calvin likes to spend time with an imaginary friend like Hobbes instead of actual boys and girls. The uncle responds, "Sometimes I think all my friends have been imaginary." True friends, lasting friends, are difficult to find, even in the church. Social media has further reduced the idea of friendship to the most frivolous level. It means almost nothing....even in the church. We drop, forget, betray, and walk away from people more easily all the time. It seems like friends come and friends go....and they mostly go. Jesus knows nothing of such friendship, and He won't accept such from any of us. He looks into our hearts and if He sees a longing for something real, something beyond what this world can offer, it is to such hearts that He offers His friendship, that He invites into friendship. He knows He can trust Himself with them. Does He know such about you and me?

Have we been nothing more than imaginary friends to Christ? Does He see the same shallowness in our hearts that is so present in the world? Can He trust Himself to us? We love to sing, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus," but can He sing such a song about us, about you and me? Today, as we allow Him to examine our hearts, does He see that which would make us His friend? Does He see a life He can entrust Himself to? Or, does He just see someone who will take advantage of the blessings He offers, the works He can do for us, and the ways He can help us....and then move on? As Blackaby says, no one chooses friendship with God. It's by invitation only. Have we received the invitation?

Blessings,

Pastor O