Experiencing Friendship with God

In review of Romans 5:10 it says, “Since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life” (NLT).

Today’s verse is Romans 5:10. It reminds me that we were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son. Now that we are God's friends, how much more will we be saved by Christ's life!

What I’m reminded of this morning is that God sent Jesus Christ to die for me, not because I was good enough, but just because he loved me. If I ever feel uncertain about God's love for me, I can remember that he love me even before I turned to him.

The love that caused Christ to die is the same love that sends the Holy Spirit to live in and guide me every day. The power that raised Christ from the dead is the same power that save me and is available to me in my daily life. Be assured that, having begun a life with Christ, I have a reserve of power and love to call on each day for he help to meet every challenge or trial I will face. I can pray for God's power and love as I need it.

My relationship to God has many different aspects: God is your Creator and Maker, Lord and Master, Judge, Redeemer, Father, Savior, and much more. But the most shocking truth is this: Almighty God yearns to be my friend!

In Eden we see God’s ideal relationship with us: Adam and Eve enjoyed an intimate friendship with God. There were no rituals, ceremonies, or religion; just a simple, loving relationship between God and the people he created. Unhindered by guilt or fear, Adam and Eve delighted in God, and he delighted in them.

I was made to live in God’s continual presence, but after the Fall, that ideal relationship was lost. Only a few people in Old Testament times had the privilege of friendship with God. Moses and Abraham were called “friends of God,” David was called “a man after my own heart,” and Job, Enoch, and Noah had intimate friendships with God (see Genesis 5:22, 6:8; Exodus 33:11, 17; 2 Chronicles 20:7; Job 29:4; Isaiah 41:8; Acts 13:22; James 2:23).

But fear of God, not friendship, was more common in the Old Testament. Then Jesus changed the situation. When he paid for our sins on the cross, the veil in the temple that symbolizes my separation from God, was split from top to bottom, indicating that direct access to God was once again available.

Unlike the Old Testament priests who had to spend hours preparing to meet God, I can now approach God anytime. The Bible says, “Now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God—all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God” (Romans 5:11 NLT).

Friendship with God is possible only because of the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus. “All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends” (2 Corinthians 5:18 GNT).

An old hymn says, “What a friend we have in Jesus,” but actually, God invites us to enjoy friendship and fellowship with all three persons of the Trinity: the Father (1 John 1:3), the Son (1 Corinthians 1:9), and the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Bottom Line:

We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son.

What this means to me:

Before I turned and committed myself to him, I was at odds with him. But still he made me his friend through the death and sacrifice of his Son. No that I'm God's fried, how much more will I be save by Christ's life.

In summary, God sent Jesus Christ to die for me, not because I was good enough, but just because he loved me. Because of this I have available to me a reserve of power and love to call on to help meet every challenge or trial I will face. While my relationship to God has many different aspects, the most shocking is that the almighty God yearns to be my friend. This friendship was only made possible because of the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus.

Thank you Father for your incredible love and sacrifice just so that I can experience a friendship with you. I thank you for what I learn from you and the comfort you give from my knowing you and your care for me and every aspect of my life. I pray this morning for you continued wisdom and guidance in my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. I also pray for continued healing for Xander. Comfort and understanding for Stephanie and Joel. For Jeanne and I to be a comfort and an assistance to them during this time. These things I pray in your Son Jesus name amen!