God is a Friend
Now that title sounds a little cheesy, huh? God is a friend? When you and I think about God, there’s a lot of descriptions we can come up with, but friend may not be up high on the list. You may not even believe there is a real God at all, and if there was one, how could a big God who has to be in control of the entire universe have the time or the desire to be a friend?
When you think about it, what do friends do? They talk face to face. They go out and have good times. They share with each other struggles that most people don’t know about. Friends help you move furniture or babysit your kids.
It’s said both in the Old Testament and the New Testament of God being like a friend. That’s really cool. Ever talked to God out loud while staring at the couch? Ever ask God what movie He wants to go see? Check these verse out and see how awesome it would be to see God like this:
Exodus 33:11 “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, the way a person speaks to a friend.” -Awesome.
Matthew 11:19 “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” -God’s not just a friend to the perfect, goody-too-shoes.
Matthew 26:50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and took hold of Jesus and arrested him.” -Jesus calls Judas his friend, the guy who betrays Jesus!
Luke 14:10 “But when you are invited, go and take the least important place, so that when your host approaches he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up here to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who share the meal with you.” -A parable of what God will do in the future during the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
John 15:13-15 “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” -Yeah, me and that guy are friends, we go way back!
John 21:5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.
Oh, and friends harass their friends when they have a bad fishing day it looks like too, thanks Jesus.
