Through the Storm: Friends of God

Having given some weeks to cementing ourselves in being secure in our relationship with God, we can now move up higher inside the lighthouse structure to the central section.

This is the place that provides the most secure shelter from the storm. It is completely protected on all sides and is therefore a safe place to rest, relax, eat, sleep and be refreshed. This speaks to us of being able to rest easily, to bask, in the knowledge of our being fully loved and accepted by God.

Read John 15:1-17; James 2:23.

What is a friend? This is the subject of an ongoing light-hearted conversation I have from time to time with one of my friends. And we differ enormously in what we understand friendship to be because it is not as straightforward to define as we imagine it should be.

I am one of those people who finds it relatively easy to form new relationships, so I am blessed to have people all over the world who I can call my ‘friends’. The truth is, however, that less than half a dozen of these are actual true, close friends; the great majority are simply acquaintances, people I like, people with whom I have shared thoughts and values or with whom I feel connected with by the Spirit. We get on well at a surface level but actually most of these ‘friends’ do not really know me very well at all, and vice versa. In fact, I am actually an introvert by nature, and therefore generally hold back from sharing very much of my personal life with anyone - even my family.

We only realised late in his life that he had a mild form of autism which affected his ability and desire to interact with people socially.

With a similar outcome but coming from the completely opposite end of the scale, my husband found it incredibly difficult to form close trusting bonds with anyone. We only realised late in his life that he had a mild form of autism which affected his ability and desire to interact with people socially.

Having suffered a major breakdown as a young man and with a phenomenal intellectual IQ of 166 (which officially made him a genius!), he always felt different, lacking in acceptance, with the result that he largely just kept silent and hated being forced into social events where he might feel no option but to talk to people. On Sundays, he would march straight out of church to avoid the potentially challenging social chit chat over coffee!

Both of these scenarios are a long way removed from what the Bible terms ‘friendship’. John 15:1-17 focuses on our covenant relationship with Christ. Note:

• Verse 4 “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you.” It is a reciprocal relationship, not one-sided.
• Verse 7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” As long as we stay within the intimacy of the reciprocal relationship, then we have confidence that our faithful covenant partner will provide everything we need for daily life and more.
• Verses 13-14 “Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” In laying down His life for us, Jesus proved His commitment to the covenant; our response is to be obedient to whatever He asks of us – this might involve a costly personal sacrifice.

We have the assurance that our faithful covenant partner God will not only endure in His love, protection and provision for us but that we are completely unconditionally loved and accepted by Him as His covenant friend. Our calling is simply to abide in Him.

You and I are totally loved and accepted covenant friends of God.

When we truly understand the nature of God’s covenant love, we need never again give into feelings of insecurity, negative or unworthy thoughts. You and I are totally loved and accepted covenant friends of God.

Additional reading: 2 Chronicles 20:7 Isaiah 41: 1-10.

Prayer Time:

• What was it that made Abraham able to be called God’s friend? There is more than one answer!
• Re-read John 15:1-17. Make a note of every instance of covenant language used by Jesus.
• What does this show you about the depth and extent of your acceptance by God?
• Jesus is your covenant friend who laid down His life for you. What should be your response?
• Talk it all over with Father God.
• Spend some time in worship, thanking Him that He is your faithful covenant partner.