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Bible passages:
Read Romans 5:1-11
Read John 15:9-17
'Best friend'. What comes to your mind when you read that description?
Do you have a 'best friend'? What distinguishes a 'best friend' friendship from other
friendship relationships?
Perhaps you think of the concept as a little childish and sentimental - but the Bible would
tell us that God wants to be our best friend.
Our relationship to God has many different aspects: Creator-creation; Father-child;
Saviour-sinner; Master-servant; Friend-friend. Do you feel any difficulties about coming to
terms with any of these relationship models? How do you feel about the final relationship
link in the list, 'friend-friend'? If you feel awkward about this way of describing your
relationship to God, can you think why this might be?
There are examples of friendship with God in the Old Testament:
Adam and Eve enjoyed an intimate relationship with God, a model of what God desires
with all people, but sin and pride destroyed that ideal relationship between a Holy God
and humanity. Yet there are instances of God taking the initiative in his mercy, to make it
possible for a close relationship to develop between people and God. For example,
Moses and Abraham were called 'friends of God', but intimacy with God was seldom
experienced.
'Then Jesus changed the situation. When he paid for our sins on the cross, the veil in the
temple that symbolized our separation from God was split from top to bottom, indicating
that direct access to God was once again available'
(Notice again, that it was God who took the initiative in breaking the barrier. If human
beings had torn the veil it would have been from the bottom to the top. )
(Read Romans 5:1-11)
What in these verses tells us that the prime mover in establishing relationship with us is
Jesus, and what tells us that this initiative is motivated by grace and love?
Are you able to think of ways in which you are aware of God having taken the initiative
in seeking to form a friendship with you?
A similar word that scripture uses for the friendship relation that God seeks with us, is
the word 'fellowship'. What added ideas does that word bring to the friendship relationship
that God wants with us?
The friendship God wants with us is not just a casual acquaintance, but a complete
sharing of life with life, in a close trusted relationship. Often, the term 'fellowship' is used
as alternative title for a 'church', because our 'fellowship' cannot be with God alone, it
must embrace His family, that is our brothers and sisters in Christ.
How much do you feel that we at Gorgie Church are a 'fellowship' of 'friends' in Christ?
How can we become it?
(Read John 15:9-17)
Jesus links friendship with him, to obeying his commands. From these verses, which
command is Jesus thinking about, above all?
Why is this so important?
Often we can let a command like this pass us by, because either we assume we are
doing it, or we restrict it's challenge to our relationships. What is there in these verses
that would suggest that the friendship and fellowship spoken of here, is costly and
sacrificial?
What could this mean for you and me in practical terms? Try and be specific.
We shall be looking at six secrets towards becoming a best friend of God, the first two
are:
1. Developing constant conversation.
'You will never grow a close relationship with God by just attending church once a week
or even having a daily quiet time. Friendship with God is build by sharing all your life
experiences with him.'
God wants us to have more than a scheduled spot with him in each day - he wants to
be included in every activity, conversation, problem, thought.
Is this what Paul meant by 'pray continually'? (1 Thess 5:17)
How much do you make everything you do an issue of prayer to God? How is it
possible to do this?
ATTITUDE: Change your attitude toward what you do. What you normally do, begin to do
it all for God. Brother Lawrence wrote a book in the 17th Century entitled, 'Practicing the
Presence of God', where he shared that we are able to turn even the most menial tasks
into an act of praise and communion with God. In your life what do you find most difficult
to turn to praise?
PRAYERS, which are short, conversational, direct. 'Breath prayers'. Practicing the presence
of God is a skill, a habit you can develop, you must force yourself to think about God at
different times in your day. You must train your mind to remember God.
How do you react to Warren's words: 'If you are seeking an
experience of his presence through all of this, you have missed the point. We don't
praise God to feel good, but to do good. Your goal is not a feeling, but a continual
awareness of the reality that God is always present.'
2. Through continual meditation
It's impossible to be God's friend, apart from knowing what he says. We need to dwell
on the Bible to know who God is, what he has done and what he has said. Think about
a verse, memorize it, focus your mind on it. Think about a problem all the time: that is
worry. Think about God's word all the time: that's meditation, and it leads to blessing.
What can I do to remind myself to think about God and to talk to him more often
throughout the day?
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