Friend of God

Many people know/heard of this song.

" I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend"

But how many people actually knows how big a deal this is? Actually, this is one of those songs that I would need to think further before singing because of the immense implications that I declare when I sing it.

To begin with, when one says "I am a friend of so and so", immediately a few things must be true for this statement to be true. A very broad definition of friend is someone whom you know, likes and trusts, and probably enjoy each other's company. Furthermore, declaring each other as friends immediately brings one to the same level as each other. Declaring "I am a friend of God" simply means that I am on the same level / talking terms as God! I cannot emphasize how great a deal this is!!

However, is it true that every believer is a friend of God ? Last I read or from what I know, God only ever declares Abraham to be His friend in Isaiah 41:8, and James 2:23. Of course other good guys like Noah, Moses (who happens to be on direct talking terms) and Job are surely friends of God as well, just not recorded only. Anyway the key question here is, what does it mean to be a friend of God?

And this is what Jesus says in John 15:9~17 (emphasis mine)

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other."

And this is what I learnt:

God calls me His friend if:

1. I do what He commands
2. I remain in His love (since obeying His commands = remaining in His love)
3. Love each other as He loved us. (This is a command!)
4. I know and is deeply involved in His business

Furthermore, God is the one who calls me friend, not the other way round. (I am chosen!)

The double emphasis of the command "Love each other" must be very high up in God's heart and so this shall be my application. Obey Him and to love each other as He has loved us.

Truly, will I be His friend.