A Friend of God!

"...there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Prov 18:24).

Oh what a wondrous thought to behold! And could it be true? Can we be a friend of God? What a priceless possession.. What a theme worthy of our meditation! What a friendship to be sought after!

Yes reader, it is true. Jesus' friendship is to be in our continual custody.. That blessed "friendly title" tells of the great sympathy that Jesus bears us in all of our suffering, temptation and infirmity.. "in all their affliction He was afflicted.. in His love and His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old" (Isa 63:9). What vast demonstrations of His friendship! Surely, He is the only friend that sticketh closer than a brother, for His humble condescension has made it so. His willing and submissive decrease into the realm of carnal humanity has paved the way for a glorious friendship to be birthed, fashioned, formed and matured.. Don't you want to reciprocate such friendly enjoyment? Almighty God has chosen you to be His only eternal inheritance and companion, don't you want to honor such a high and holy privilege (Deut 7:6; 1 Kgs 8:51)?

Jesus is many things to His people; many and varied are the relationships in which our Lord stands to us, and we are much worse if He is ignored in any of them. He is God, Lord, Head and Savior of the church. Officially He is our Prophet, Priest and King. Personally He is our Kinsman-Redeemer, our great Intercessor, and our Husband (Eph 5:25-32). He is also to be our Friend - our closest Friend at that: He is to be nearer in relation than any earthly brother, mate or ally. So close in fact, that we are said to be "members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones" (Eph 5:30).

Anyone who was of any regard in Scripture was always a friend of God. And not only a friend of God, but a friend to God. Of the Shulamite bride, the Bible says that Solomon, who is a clear type of the Lord Jesus, "is altogether lovely.. This is my beloved, and this is my friend.." (Song 5:16).. Abraham likewise knew this reality: "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God" (Jas 2:23; 2 Chron 20:7; Isa 41:8; ). As did Moses: "And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend" (Exod 33:11). Furthermore, to Jesus' remnant of disciples He said, "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you" (Jn 15:15; Lk 12:4; Jn 3:29). And the list goes on. Those who were reaching for their divine potential always recognized and sought after this glorious friendship to be acquired with the Master.

Let us consider the excellencies of this great Friend...

Jesus is our ancient Friend.. The Lord Jesus is probably the only Friend who befriended us while we were yet His enemies! What a Friend indeed! We fell in Adam, but He did not cease to love us; rather, He became the last federal Adam to redeem us and to "lay down His life for His friends" (Jn 15:13). He is an old Friend, an ancient love, present from the start.. and the oldest friends are the most highly prized.

Jesus is our faithful Friend.. The Bible tells us, "A friend loveth at all times" (Prov 17:17). Jesus will be your closest companion through all the storms of life - He is no mere fair-weather friend who will fail you when you need him most. He won't desert you in the valley of the shadow of death.. even there "Thou art with me" (Ps 23:4). He is our friend in the day of adversity equally as much as in the day of prosperity. He is "a very present help in trouble" (Ps 46:1), and a very present friend in peace. Such constant faithfulness transcends our shortcomings, and often surpasses our understanding too. How can such a Friend exist? How could One so glorious be unashamed to call us His brethren (Heb 2:11)? Reader, it's because He's a true and faithful Friend, eager to bear our wounds (Prov 27:6) - He's a Friend like no other!

Jesus is our omnipotent Friend.. Most friends I know have a desire to help, but no wherewithal to see it through. In this respect too, Jesus is the closest Friend I have! Not only does He see my aching need, but He also has the power to see it accomplished. He alone is the Possessor of unsearchable riches, and all that He has is at our disposal: "The glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them" (Jn 17:22).

What a Friend I have in Jesus! I wonder, have you met Him?