Daily Devotion: A Biblical View of Being A Friend of God

Bible Reading: James 2:15-26

Key Verse: Verse 23 – “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”

Key Words: and he was called the Friend of God

A recent survey of 12,000 people who said that they were faithful in their church attendance revealed just how ignorant the American people are in spiritual matters. For example:

• Only 57% or 6,840 people out of 12,000 knew where Jesus was born.
• Only 53% knew who Goliath was.
• Only 51% knew where the Ten Commandments could be found.
• Only 49% knew who led Israel out of Egypt.

By the way, Jesus was born in Bethlehem; Goliath was the Philistine giant who David killed with his slingshot; the Ten Commandments are found in the Bible in Exodus, chapter 20; and Moses led Israel out of Egypt.

The lack of Biblical knowledge to answer these simple questions emphasizes the need of a more thorough teaching of God’s Word. If the simple facts of the Bible are unknown, then what about the deeper truths of God’s Word in such areas as justification, sanctification, holiness, righteousness, regeneration, and the judgments of God?

On several occasions I have preached in school chapels on the subject of being the friend of God. I’ve preached the message to thousands of “Christian school students” and before I ever preach the message, I’ve always asked the students to stand if indeed they are the friend of God. I’ve never had a student not stand. Then I preach from John 15:14, James 2:23, and James 4:4 on the three requirements of being the friend of God:

• obeying the commands of Jesus (John 15:14),
• believing in God (James 2:23), and
• not being a friend of the world (James 4:4).

At the close of the message, I re-ask the question, “Now, how many of you would say, ‘Yes, I am the friend of God.’?” Fewer than two dozen students out of thousands have said yes, they are the friend of God – after they have been taught what the friend of God is. One student said to me after hearing the message, “I’ve never been taught that; I didn’t know.” Therein lies the problem in our homes, churches, and schools. We are simply doing a poor job of teaching our children spiritual truths.

So today, commit yourself both to be here and to hear God’s Word as it is taught.

What to do:
✞ Today apply the three principles that are required to be a friend of God: 1) be born again, 2) obey the Lord, and 3) do not be a friend of the world.

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