“…Become friends with God; He’s already a friend with you.”

      II Corinthians 5:20b (msg)

Friends have been a very important part of my life, perhaps because as a child I was moved from foster home to foster home. Establishing roots became important to me at a very young age, so some of my friends have been in my life since I was 4 years old. Other relationships have lasted since I was 10, 14, and even now I enjoy meeting and making new friends.

Friendships take care, nurturing, and honesty so it was especially important to me to teach my young children how to have and be friends. Beginning with sharing, not hitting, and of course, not biting (!), they progressed through preschool to grade school where they began to learn about kindness, the power of their words, and the beginnings of loyalty.

Finally as they matured into high school, they continued building friendships and relationships that have carried over into their adult lives. Now it’s really fun to hear them reminisce about their times together and the activities (some that Mom didn’t even know about!) that bonded them.

Friends are mentioned many times in the Bible. Some friends were questionable, like Job’s friends. Some friends were very beloved, like David’s friend, Jonathan, son of King Saul. Paul had many friends, people whom he loved dearly. Jesus had numerous friends, who enabled His ministry with provisions, food and care. God’s Word talks a great deal about friends. Did you know that the Bible says that even God had friends?

James 2:23 tells us “Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous. He was even called ‘the friend of God.’” II Chronicles says, “Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham, Your friend forever? God says to satan in the Book of Job, “Have you noticed My friend Job? There’s no one quite like him - honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil.” Jesus cared deeply about His friends and, in fact, it is documented that He wept over one of them. John writes, “And after that He said to them, Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”

The Bible talks about friends who “love at all times” and that “a man who has friends must himself be friendly.” Proverbs has numerous references to friends, “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Another proverb says, “Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and – goodbye, friend!” Here’s one I like, “Do a favor and win a friend forever; nothing can untie that bond.”

There are Scriptures that tell us how to treat friends, “Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him.” Here’s a really important one: “When you hurt your friend, you hurt Christ.” (I Cor. 8:12a). That’s a very sobering thought, isn’t it? Especially important, the Bible tells us what kinds of friends to choose, “I’m a friend and companion of all who fear you, of those committed to living by your rules.” The Word clearly tells us “even a child is known by the friends he keeps.”

Here’s one I have found to be true in my own life, “Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.” My husband and I chose this as our verse for our marriage theme: “By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.” (Eccl. 4:12) Isn’t that true? With a friend by your side, you can face nearly anything, but with the third strand of God and His Strength, the rope isn’t “easily snapped.”

Perhaps the most exciting news is God’s Word tells Several times in the Gospel of John, the writer tells of Jesus promising us about a really important and very special Friend. Jesus tells His disciples, “I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you.” Then He describes this Friend, “This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!”

Again in John, Jesus tells us, “The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you.” Finally He says, “But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won’t draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said.”

Best of all, we have the most important and dearest Friend. God’s Holy Word tells you and me, “…But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus.” (I John 2:1b) Just think of that. Righteous Jesus is our Friend. How exactly to we treat our Dearest Friend? Do we give Him a pat on the shoulder as we hurriedly walk by? Do we make the occasional phone call to say hi? Do we send off the quickie email just to check in? Do we forget His Birthday, His Death, and His Resurrection?

Or do we sit down, cuddle up in an afghan, sip tea and spend precious time with Him. Do we talk to Him about what’s on our hearts that no one else could possibly understand or that we’re afraid for anyone else to know about? Do we listen to His Heart? Do we care to hear His words? Do we think of time with Him with deep longing and hunger in our hearts? Or do we sense a call from Him and shrug it off with irritation because we have more important things to do?

The time we spend getting to know our Friend more intimately becomes deeper, richer, and more satisfying as the years move on. We begin to look like Him, we carry His sweet fragrance, and He shines through us. He truly becomes our Best Friend. So take some time today, pull out that afghan, that cup of tea, and spend some quality time with your dear Friend. Laugh with Him, have fun, most of all, really get to know Him. You’ll be so glad you did.

Copyright 2006 by Desiree Pheister

Desirée Pheister is a member of Eastside Foursquare Church. She is a newlywed, a mom, a grandmother, and an administrative assistant at a medical research facility. You may reach her at: marrion8955@yahoo.com