A friend of God

I have been thinking about what it means to be a friend of God. This term is used several times in the Bible. Abraham is described as a friend of God. It says Moses talked to God as a friend. And then there is Enoch who “walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”

What would this look like now, in our day and age? Can we be a friend to God.

I was puzzling over this idea yesterday and couldn’t wrap my head around it. But this morning I understand. Why?

I was driving my husband to work, my strong, intelligent husband, who can no longer drive because of the stroke. He doesn’t have much in the way of worldly wealth or prestige. People pass him by, he is unimportant and undervalued. He is soft-spoken and reluctant to push himself forward, but his mind is always full of ideas and potential. He has the most optimistic soul. In fact, he doesn’t care what other people think, he isn’t in the game of ‘impressing.’

I have been driving him to work this week. He likes to ride his bike, more independence from the old wife. But last Friday a car turned in front of him, and he was thrown from his bike. Thankfully he is just bruised and battered. This morning he sits beside me in the car, while I’m stewing and angry about all the ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” My resentment building over all the difficulties we have faced.

He calmly says, “You know, I was thinking. It was such a good experience for me to have a paper route when I was a kid. It taught me so much.”

My jaw dropped and I felt ashamed of my own anger. This is the best man I know.

He is straightforward and honest and always hopeful. I believe this is what it means to be a friend of God.

Micah 6: 8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.