What a Friend

The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships. - Abraham Lincoln

The LORD is a friend to those who fear (revere) him. He teaches them his covenant. Psalm 25:14 NLT

There’s no greater friend than God! 

Greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13 NLT

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. John 15:12 NLT 

Be the Godly friend you wish you had.

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you’ve forgotten the words. ~ unknown

1) Get to Know Him personally

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Revelation 3:20 NLT 

How incredible that God would take the initiative to be in a personal relationship with each of us.

Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. Exodus 33:11 ESV

2) Learn and Live His Nature and Character

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Romans1:20-21 NLT 

I like your Christ, but not your Christians, they’re not very much like Christ. - Gandhi

3) Do His will - You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:14-15 NLT

A friends judgements and decisions line up with God's word, an enemy’s doesn’t. 

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4 ESV

I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done, kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love. John 15:9-10 MSG 

Abe believed / trusted… and was even called the friend of God. James 2:23

4) Love His Kids - These things I command you, so that you will love one another. John 15:17 ESV

When you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me! Matt 25:40 NLT