Friend of God

"When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers – the moon and the stars that you have set in place – what are mortals that you should think of us, and mere humans that you should care for us?" (Psalm 8:3-4)

Worshiping God involves counting on him as your friend. This may be a new thought to some who are used to thinking of God as more aloof and distant when it comes to a personal relationship with any of us. It is much more common to think of God as high and lifted up than to think of him as a companion. That may be because he is high and lifted up, and his glory fills the whole earth. But the truly amazing thing about God is that he will relate to any of us as a friend. He meets us at our level, and in doing so, confirms both our intrinsic value and our value to him.

The Old Testament portrays God as a friend to Moses, Abraham, and David, often sparring with them in debate over his rule of the nation of Israel. Adam walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the morning. Enoch walked so closely with God that one day, they simply walked right into heaven. And Jesus, as the embodiment of God in human form, was called a friend of sinners and had close relationships with his 12 disciples and a very special relationship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

God is into being a friend to you and me. Not that he is a buddy or "one of the guys." Our access to him as a friend is a revered part of our worship. To worship God is to carry on a conversation with him – to talk with him, share our hopes and dreams and fears with him, and even our displeasure or impatience with the way things are going. He wants our honesty. (He knows us anyway, better than we know ourselves, so how foolish it is to try and be something we are not around God!)

In C.S. Lewis's beloved Chronicles of Narnia, the children have a special relationship with Aslan, the lion, who represents Christ in the story. They are allowed to share some intimate moments with him where they sink their hands into the deep fur of his golden mane or feel the warmth of his breath or ride on his back over the Narnian countryside. But Lewis is careful to remind us that Aslan, though warm to these friendly gestures, is not a tame lion.

God is still God and though he is our friend, we worship him as God and marvel that he would befriend us. And yet he does! And that is the greatest wonder of all.

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Friend of God is written by John Fischer © 2006 Purpose Driven Life All rights reserved.
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