DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: SEPTEMBER 28 BENEFITS OF BECOMING GOD’S FRIEND SCRIPTURE: Gen. 14: 11, 15 – 16, 19 – 20; 2 Sam. 22 – 25; Isa. 43: 25 – 26
Taking our conclusion from the discussions on “How to become God’s Friend”; clarity has been established that human being can become God’s friend. Next thing the mind will query could be what does one stands to benefit from becoming God’s friend. A thoughtful heart or mind will laugh at such query as so many things stand as benefits from being God’s friend. If we can imagine what one benefits from being intimately close to a president of a country, then higher magnitude of such benefits can be envisaged from being God’s friend. Friendship with God benefits greatly.
First, being a friend of God gives us opportunity to enjoy cordial relationship with God. He will be visiting you or sending His angels to be visiting you regularly. He paid such personal visits to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3: 8). It was one of such visits that Adam told Him they were naked (Gen. 3: 9-10). He paid such visit to Abraham with two of His angels (Gen. 18: 1-3).
Second, being a friend of God entitles one to be called into discussion with God. That forms parts of Isaiah 1: 18. A friend of God can meet with Him, discuss why such a person sinned against Him. At the end of the discussion or reasoning together, God can forgive the sins of the friend no matter the weight or nature of the sins (Isa. 43: 25-26).
Third, being a friend of God makes us to receive secret things from Him. People who are God’s friends receive lots of secret things from Him which include plans of our enemies, how to fight our enemies and the method to use in the war just like what He did to King David (2 Sam. 22-25). He gives secret to the treasures of the earth to His friends too (Isa. 45: 3).
Fourth, God allows His friends to intervene for others who offended Him. This played out between God and Moses in favour of the Israelites. God planned to destroy the Israelites completely. But Moses entered into conversations with God and God withdrew His anger at that very moment (Gen. 14: 11, 15 – 16, 19 – 20).
Fifth, being a friend to God makes one to be filled with divine wisdom that makes one wins favour from fellow human beings and with God. Joseph is one example (Gen. 39: 21). Joseph proved a good friend with God, very loyal to God that he refused the highest offer a woman gives to man._ He got jailed, yet God promoted him from the cell. Friends, you do want to be found at the table of God for intimate discussion with Him? Do you want to receive secrets of living and treasures of this world? Do you want to be preferred above all of your fellow being? Then make yourself a friend of God now.
PRAYER:
FATHER, accept me as your friend today as I come to you the way I am in the name of Jesus Christ. Build your trust in me and grant me grace to remain loyal to you in Jesus name.
CONFESSIONAL DECLARATION:
I am a blessing of the LORD. I am His friend and loyalist. Hallelujah!
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch
