Buddies

The wicked is a coward, and is afraid of everything; of God, because he is his enemy; of Satan, because he is his tormentor; of God’s creatures, because they, joining with their Maker, fight against him; of himself, because he bears about with him his own accuser and executioner. The godly man contrarily is afraid of nothing; not of God, because he knows him as his best friend, and will not hurt him; not of Satan, because he cannot hurt him; not of afflictions, because he knows they come from a loving God, and end in his good; not of the creatures, since “the very stones in the field are in the league with him”; not of himself, since his conscience is at peace.
~Joseph Hall (1574-1656)


You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.  You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
~ James (the brother of Jesus the King of the Universe) 2:22-26


“Wake up buddy.”


What?


“You heard Me.”


Say it again Lord.


“Good morning buddy.”


And the grin that can only come on a face when it is forged from the fullness of joy in the Presence of our G_d explodes on the face of a man awakening to the time of the morning watch.  The morning watch is a precious time of communion between a believer and the One in whom the believer believes.  It is a vital hour or so of time wherein the creature and the Creator work on getting to know each other better every day.


Incredulous?


Oh beloved, we were Designed to be in intimate relationship with our Creator.  We have no problem calling G_d our Friend.  What keeps us from believing that we are His?  Could it be that we are not putting the work into the relationship?


Fear not friends.  This writer has not taken a dive off of the platform of Grace that is the Bible!  Take a look at the passage.  What was the work that made both Rahab (a prostitute), and Abraham (a nomad) G_d’s friend?


They listened to Him.  And they simply took Him at His word.  And in fully believing Him, their actions simply aligned with the truth of who He is.  And note this clearly.  If we will listen to our Friend and trust Him and have our actions line up with the listening and trusting – we will indeed become our Friend’s friend too!


Let’s get practical for a moment.  Let this writer challenge you to actually try something.  Let him defer to an expert, though, in the writing of the challenge

What’s the point?


Your Friend is calling out to you all the time.  He wants to lead you into a glorious friendship of intimacy and peace.  However, only He is the Author of such peace.  He is the only one who can see everything all at once.  He is the One who should be trusted to guide the friendship.  It is not that we are stupid, or puppets.  It is just that He is so infinitely smarter and bigger and stronger and better at everything – that it only makes sense to let Him lead the dance, so that He can guide us through all the steps successfully.


Can i share a secret?  He is the best, best Friend you will ever have.  i am His buddy.  And He wants me to tell you clearly that He wants you to be His buddy too!