DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: SEPTEMBER 29 STEPS TO BECOME GOD’S FRIEND (1) SCRIPTURE: JAMES 4: 8; GENESIS 22: 1-3, 9-10

The law of cause and effect is seen in almost all things in life. One action usually leads to another reaction. So it is in establishing friendship. It takes one’s friendly approach to attract another person’s friendly relationship. Bible teachers and preachers have various ways that one can become God’s friend. This devotional will present few of them in this series.

JUST ACCEPT WHAT GOD SAYS:

In other to become God’s friend one has to first accept His call in trust and confidence. This was what Abraham did. When God called him and asked him to leave his country to a land that God will show him, Abraham did not ask who you are. Where is the place? How will I get there? The Bible said Abraham departed as the Lord had spoken to him (Gen. 12: 3). Abraham was not skeptical about anything of God. As many that doubt or question the voice of God never become His friends. He says “if you draw nearer to me I will draw nearer to you.

BELIEVE AND TRUST HIM TOTALLY:

No one will take a partner who does not believe and trust him or her as friend. A friend believes in his or her friend in full confidence and trust. Abraham did that to God. God kept calling him, asking him to be relocating from Haran to unidentified place, then to Canaan, then to Mountains at the east of Bethel; then to Egypt etc., (Gen. 12: 1-3, 5-7, 10). Abraham never loses confidence in God. He kept believing and trusting God. The more we believe and trust God, the friendlier we become with Him.

ABIDING TO THE LAW OF GOD:

There is what can be called “Laws of relationship” between one person and the partner in friendship. These laws if constantly broken will mare friendship._ Abraham was in total adherence to God’s laws or instructions. There was no law given to Abraham that he did not keep. At 99 years old God appeared to Abraham and entered into covenant with him. God said to him: “I am Almighty God, walk before me blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly… as for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations (Gen. 17: 1-2, 9 NKJV). The more one abides in God, the more God becomes his or her friend.

WILLINGNESS TO GIVE ANYTHING TO GOD:

Every human loves a cheerful giver. It is usually hard for a miser or greedy person to make good friend. Abraham was a man who always gives his best to God sacrificially. When he was to entertain God and the angels, he gave the best calf. When God asked for sacrificing Isaac Abraham never hesitated (Gen. 18: 6-7; 22: 1-3, 9-10). This willingness to offer Isaac as burnt offering to God convinced God that there is nothing Abraham can withhold from Him. Concrete friendship was established. Brothers and sisters, how willing and ready are we to do all that Abraham did so as to become friends of God these days?

PRAYER:

LORD JESUS, grant me the qualities of Abraham, the father of faith, so that I will establish bonding friendship with God. Amen and Amen.

bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch