Part 1 #Friendship with God

     What a beautiful thing friendship can be. We all experience friendship through out our lives and can relate to it. Have you ever considered your relationship with God to be a friendship? God has things to tell us about friendship in His word. We can use His amazing wisdom to make our friendships good and long lasting ones. 
I'll be working through a 5-part devotional series on friendships my wonderful mother wrote (and passing on my two cents as well); hope you enjoy this series!

Friendship with God

Read:      Exodus 33: 7, 9-11

          Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch is outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting”. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshipped each at the entrance to his tent. The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.

                    James 2: 20-23

          You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the alter? You see that his faith and his actions were working together and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God,, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.

          What is friendship with God? Can we really have that kind of relationship with Him? After all He is almighty and we are just sinful people. I believe we can. The bible clearly tells us that Moses was called a friend of God. What made Moses worthy of such a title? Moses relationship with God started with God. If we, too, want to be a called a friend of God then we, too, must start with God. Moses learned throughout his life to depend on God. Depending on God was a key element in their relationship. Abraham was also called a friend to God. Abraham believed, trusted and obeyed God. But Abraham also lived this faith. This was shown when he offered up his son to God and trusted that God would keep His word. 
So then what does this mean for us? How do we become friends with God? We too must learn who God is, what He has done for us and continues to do for us every day. We must trust Him and live in obedience to Him. Our faith leads to a desire to do His will and to a complete trust in God, whose promises will carry us through this life to our eternal one. Do you, in faith, trust, obey and believe God?
I'll leave you with a song my mother taught us as young children:

1	When we walk with the Lord   In the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way;   While we do His good will,   He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.
Chorus:	Trust and obey, For there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus,   But to trust and obey.
2	Not a shadow can rise,   Not a cloud in the skies, But His smile quickly drives it away;   Not a doubt or a fear,   Not a sigh or a tear, Can abide while we trust and obey.
3	Not a burden we bear,   Not a sorrow we share, But our toil He doth richly repay;   Not a grief or a loss,   Not a frown or a cross, But is blest if we trust and obey.
4	But we never can prove   The delights of His love, Until all on the altar we lay;   For the favor He shows,   And the joy He bestows, Are for them who will trust and obey.
5	Then in fellowship sweet   We will sit at His feet, Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;   What He says we will do;   Where He sends, we will go, Never fear, only trust and obey.

#TheNorMelHouse