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A Friend of God

by Jerry Ousley  
6/03/2010 / Christian Living


Everyone needs a friend. When we don't have other people in our lives something happens to us. We can become bitter and angry. We lose our sense of humor. Some have even become slaves in their own homes because they have a fear of going outside and encountering other people.

I've had a lot of friends in my life. Some have slipped into the darkness, moved away, or I moved away; others made a decision in life that led them to another job, or I took another job and we lost contact. However, on occasion I see some of those people I had befriended in the supermarket, or at a restaurant. It's good to see them again, but frankly the separation of years has led to a difference of interests and most of the time conversation is limited to "how you doing how's the family good to see you got to go." Even though there is a connection there because of past friendship there isn't much to talk about.

There is one friend I've had for thirty-three years at this writing; that's my wife, Debbie. Yes we are married. Yes, we've had our share of disagreements and there have been times you'd think we wouldn't make it. She's made me angrier than anyone else I know and I suppose she can say the same. There have been times I've done things that hurt her feelings and she's hurt me too. But we are more than merely a husband and wife we are friends. I can confide in her and she in me. We've laughed together, played together and shared great moments in life with each other. When I indulge in my favorite past time (eating) it's always more enjoyable when we eat together. We can cry on each other's shoulder and poke fun at one another knowing that we don't really mean it. She's more than my wife, because she is my best friend.

Friends are important. There is one other friendship that should really be more important than any other and that is to be a friend of God. Luke had a friend. His name was Theophilus. In fact that is the meaning of his name; Theophilus means "friend of God." Even though we aren't told very much about this man he was important enough in Luke's life that he wanted his friend to know the facts about Jesus Christ and the Church. That's the reason, according to the opening lines of the Book of Acts, that the good doctor wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. He wanted his friend to have the facts. At that time there were many accounts of the life of Jesus going around. Some reported fantastical stories. We know that Jesus was a worker of miracles but many of the things being told were plain fiction. Luke was concerned that his friend might be misinformed. So he wrote those two books. I'm really glad he did because there are so many things God has revealed to His Church because of the obedience of Luke.

While we should have the greatest respect for God we can also become His friend. In fact, I believe God wants nothing more than to be our friend. It is the height of our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

When I was a kid I loved my Dad. He provided for his family and he worked hard. He was there despite difficult times. He was also there to correct us if we needed it (and I needed it a lot). I'll never forget the "thwep, thwep, thwep" sound of his belt pulling through the loops of his pants because that was his chosen method of punishment. He didn't beat us and he didn't abuse us with that belt. But it became his symbol of correction when we had done wrong. I don't think it hurt me any and in fact helped to mold my life to what it is today.

As an adult I learned more about my Dad. He became my friend. For a while we worked at the same factory, rode to work together and ate lunch together. I got to know him a little better and our relationship went beyond father and son.

That's what God wants to do with us. Yes we respect Him. Yes we worship Him. But He also wants to be more than a god He wants to be our friend.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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