To Have Friendship with God

Today I taught a Sunday school lesson on the story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus from John 11. The narrative clearly indicates that these were friends of Jesus. Yet, for all the study that I have done of the Bible and theology, I have only started to understand what it is to have friendship with God.

I worship him as my savior, comforter, and advisor. I read about him as the almighty creator. I try to make my life a sacrifice that is pleasing to Him. But, the practice of active friendship has always eluded me.

Jesus’ Friendship With Lazarus

Jesus loved everyone. But, Jesus’ friendship with Lazarus and his sisters is a mystery to me. They believed in Him, but they were not disciples. They don’t appear to follow him from place to place.

Still, they must have known him. They must have had some kind of relationship with him. It reminds me that there was so much to Jesus’s life that was never inked on paper.

His emotions in this story are so vividly human. He cared deeply for his friends. He wept with Mary and Martha as they sat shiva, even though he knew Lazarus was not going to stay dead.

To Have Friendship with God

I want to have friendship with God like that. I want Jesus to weep with me. Laugh with me. To know him deeply, and have him be present in every facet and memory of my life.

Last month, I started deliberately trying to pray with God more like I talk to my friends and mentors. I name my emotions. I talk about my day. I ask him for advice. I have cried and laughed a lot more than usual during my time with him.

It has fundamentally altered the nature of my time with Him. I still worship and reverence him. But, I am closer to him. It feels more like calling one of my closest, most trusted friends.

I have experienced his love. I have experienced mercy. But, I am grateful today to have begun experiencing the joy of his friendship for the first time.

The words to a very famous hymn have been on my mind since this morning.

“What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
And what a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer”

Prayer for Today

My prayer for today is that I would continue to grow in my friendship with Jesus. I hope to look back in another few months and see how little I understood of what friendship with him could be.

I am resolved to continue doing the things which help me to know him–to spend time in my bible, praise and worship, prayer, and in fellowship with other believers. To this I am adding my commitment to share the joys that I experience in my journey with Him.

Scriptures About Friendship with God

“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:3-4 (ESV)

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:13-15 (ESV)

“but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to protect what I have entrusted to Him until that day” 2 Timothy 1:12b (NASB)