Our Forever Friend

               KEY VERSE - John 15:14 – "You are my friends if you do what I command."

We often hear terms like BFF, Bestie, Sister (or brother), Homie used to describe friendships.

Throughout the Bible we see many different types of friendships. We also can receive the wisdom on how to be a good friend. 

The dictionary says this about the word friendship: a relationship between friends - a state of mutual trust and support. Similar words include: association, bond, companionship, fellowship, closeness, unity, harmony 

We all desire companionship and closeness, someone we can share our joys and our struggles with. But, what if I told you that your greatest friendship could be with God Himself? Because of Jesus, and through Him, we are invited into an eternal covenant and friendship with our Heavenly Father. This relationship with God will never disappoint and will never fade away.

The Bible talks about either being a friend of God or being an enemy of God. 

James 4:4 “You adulterous people! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? So whoever wants to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” This verse uses the imagery of adultery to illustrate the unfaithfulness of being a friend of the world, which is a betrayal of God. It emphasizes that choosing the world’s ways is a direct opposition to God’s ways, making one an enemy.

We can continue to love and appreciate our earthly friendships, but it is our relationship with God that should make us full of joy and gratitude!

   What the Word Says about Friendships/Relationships:

God designed us for relationships. Genesis 2:18

“It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

             God knew from the beginning that it was not good for Adam to be alone. It highlights the

             Importance of companionship and the basic human need for relationships.

Faith makes us friends with God. James 2:2

          “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was 

             called God’s friend.”

            Our friendship with God is not based on our performance, but in our faith and trust in the

            The One who created us. When we place our faith in Jesus, we too become friends with 

            God. Trust is always a key component for relationships to flourish. Knowing God 

            Intimately helps us to trust Him more, and as we know Him more, we come to know His 

           Faithfulness and love towards us.  

The Problem - Sin Separated us from God. Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus

Our LORD.”

            Sin has a cost. It is eternal separation from God, and Heaven. However, God does  

            offer us an incredible gift - eternal life through Jesus Christ. We can not earn this gift. 

            We receive it through our faith. Sometimes our sinful nature and behavior can ruin our 

            earthly relationships. It is only through God’s love that we are truly able to maintain and

            thrive in our relationships here on earth, and in our personal relationship with Jesus.  

The Solution - Jesus’ Love and Sacrifice John 3:16

            “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone

            Who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

            God’s love for us is so great that He sent Jesus, as a sacrifice for our sins. That sacrifice 

            bridges the gap that sin created between us and God, offering us the chance to be

            restored to a right relationship with Him. God will always make a way for us to be 

            restored back to Him.

Forgiveness and New Life 1 John 1:9 and 1 Peter 1:3-4

            “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to 

             Cleanse us from all wickedness.”

             “All praise to God, the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy     

             that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

             Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance –

             an inheritance that is kept in Heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the 

             reach of change and decay.”

             Through Jesus’ resurrection, we receive new life, a living hope, and a future that is 

             secure with Him for eternity.

Our Response - Following Jesus John 15:14

            “You are my Friends if you do as I command.”

             When we follow in Jesus’ footsteps and do as the Bible instructs us, we become friends

             with God. We show our love and commitment to Jesus by living according to His Word,

             trusting Him in all things, and sharing His love with others.

Are you a friend of God? Are you deepening your friendship with Him through prayer and reading the Word? How can you share this incredible friendship with others?

Let us embrace this eternal friendship with gratitude and commitment, knowing that God is always with us.

Prayer ~

LORD, thank You for making a way for me to be your friend forever. Help me to walk closely with You,

trusting in Your love and sharing it with others. Amen.

Author: Priscilla Campbell 

Editor: Christine Platt