But you, Isra'el, my servant; Ya'akov, whom I have chosen, descendants of Avraham my friend (Isaiah 41:8).
Amazing! God calls Abraham his friend. The King of the universe, the Holy One, invites a human being to become an intimate friend. Wondrous again is Yeshua's statement in John 15:15: "I no longer call you slaves ...but I have called you friends." Those who follow him are not just his students or followers, but his friends.
But what does this friendship look like? How do we experience friendship with the God of Israel and with his Messiah? We must partner with God to work alongside him. Jewish tradition teaches that redemption is accomplished only by God working with men and women. How is this so? Because we are his highest creation. Each day as we love others—as we pursue justice and goodness—we live out our friendship with God. In practical terms, we relate to God as our friend when we comfort a sad child, when we write a letter to a government official protesting an incident of gross injustice, when we lend an attentive ear to someone who is lonely, and when we make out a check to help alleviate suffering elsewhere in the world.
Today, we must make it a point to walk as God's friends by partnering with him to accomplish his work in the world. When the day is over, we will enjoy fellowship with his Ruach (Spirit), as he whispers to our souls, "Well done, my friend. We walked and worked together today."
...walk as God's friend by doing his work alongside him.
RN