TO BE GOD'S FRIEND YOU MUST BE HONEST WITH HIM
“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: 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~
To be a friend -- the Greek word is teknon -- was to be someone close, a dear one or beloved. This is no mere acquaintance but one who is a confident, one who is aware of another's deep thoughts. This was demonstrated by God in the life of Abraham in Genesis 18:16-33
God doesn’t expect you to be perfect, but He does expect you to be honest. If perfection was a requirement not one of us would qualify.
In the Bible God’s friends were honest about their feelings, sometimes even complaining and arguing with Him, yet He didn’t seem to mind . In fact, He encouraged it. God listened patiently to David’s accusations of unfairness, betrayal and abandonment. He didn’t zap Jeremiah for claiming God had tricked him. Job was allowed to vent his bitterness and God actually defended him for being honest.
On the other hand, He rebuked Job’s friends for faking it: “You haven’t been honest either with me or about me - not the way my friend Job has…My friend Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer” (see Job 42:7-9).
To be God’s friend you must share your true feelings with Him, not what you think you ought to feel or say. Until you understand that God uses everything for good in our lives, you’ll harbor resentment towards Him over your looks, your nationality, your economic background, your unanswered prayers, your past hurts, and the things you’d change if you were God.
Actually, revealing your feelings and releasing your resentments to Him are the first steps to becoming spiritually whole.
Isn’t it encouraging to know that God’s closest friends felt just like we do, but instead of masking their feelings in pious clichés they voiced them openly. Why? Because expressing them leads to HEALING and a DEEPER LEVEL OF INTIMACY WITH HIM.
O Lord, thank You for being our friend. Thank You for allowing us to be open and honest with You on everything in our lives, even if it is not pleasing to You. Thank You for not judging us and for loving us no matter what we do. Lord help us to have a closer, more intimate relationship with You. The best thing that You could ever say to us is "My child you are my friend." Watch over us and keep us safe through out this weekend. For those traveling Lord grant them traveling mercies. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
To be a friend -- the Greek word is teknon -- was to be someone close, a dear one or beloved. This is no mere acquaintance but one who is a confident, one who is aware of another's deep thoughts. This was demonstrated by God in the life of Abraham in Genesis 18:16-33
God doesn’t expect you to be perfect, but He does expect you to be honest. If perfection was a requirement not one of us would qualify.
In the Bible God’s friends were honest about their feelings, sometimes even complaining and arguing with Him, yet He didn’t seem to mind . In fact, He encouraged it. God listened patiently to David’s accusations of unfairness, betrayal and abandonment. He didn’t zap Jeremiah for claiming God had tricked him. Job was allowed to vent his bitterness and God actually defended him for being honest.
On the other hand, He rebuked Job’s friends for faking it: “You haven’t been honest either with me or about me - not the way my friend Job has…My friend Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer” (see Job 42:7-9).
To be God’s friend you must share your true feelings with Him, not what you think you ought to feel or say. Until you understand that God uses everything for good in our lives, you’ll harbor resentment towards Him over your looks, your nationality, your economic background, your unanswered prayers, your past hurts, and the things you’d change if you were God.
Actually, revealing your feelings and releasing your resentments to Him are the first steps to becoming spiritually whole.
Isn’t it encouraging to know that God’s closest friends felt just like we do, but instead of masking their feelings in pious clichés they voiced them openly. Why? Because expressing them leads to HEALING and a DEEPER LEVEL OF INTIMACY WITH HIM.
O Lord, thank You for being our friend. Thank You for allowing us to be open and honest with You on everything in our lives, even if it is not pleasing to You. Thank You for not judging us and for loving us no matter what we do. Lord help us to have a closer, more intimate relationship with You. The best thing that You could ever say to us is "My child you are my friend." Watch over us and keep us safe through out this weekend. For those traveling Lord grant them traveling mercies. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
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