Friend of God

"'No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.'" (John 15:15)

Me? A friend of God? For real?

Who am I that You are mindful of me
That You hear me
When I call
Is it true that You are thinking of me
How you love me
It's amazing

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

Wow, that song almost always makes me cry when I hear it. I remember the first time I heard it, at Living Hope in College Station, TX. It's such a song of celebration. A song with words that celebrate God's great love for His children, His saints. So often we as Christians walk around like zombies with our heads hanging low because we are ashamed, upset about our sin, and are obviously unaware of the power of the Holy Spirit within us, the Holy Spirit that has sealed us for eternity and gives us the power to say no to ungodliness and YES to righteousness. There is victory in the power of the blood of Jesus, sweet friends, and we've got to walk in faith and believe that truth. It does no good for us to simply read the Word, we MUST believe in its power to transform us, its power to conform us more into the likeness of Christ, its power to transform our lives to dwell on eternal things and to erase bad thoughts from our past, and we must believe in its power to show us our sin and bring about victory in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. Verses that come to mind are Romans 8:1-2-"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." There is no need to walk around ashamed....shame is not of the Lord, but of the enemy. Satan wants us to be afraid of coming to God, to fear opening up our mouths and confessing our sins to the Lord. Satan wants to isolate us and fill our minds with lies from the world, so that he can keep us far from God. No, my brothers and sisters, don't believe his lies. Turn to the Word that you may find life and life in abundance! Like Heather says, "Our only hope is God's Word and obeying it." That is so true. We have to stop believing the subtle lies of the world as well as the big obvious lies and turn to the Truth from God's Word. How will others see the joy of the Lord in us if we are walking around ashamed and beaten down? They won't. Satan is a joy-stealer. But check out Romans 16:20-"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." That is so tight. Amen to that.

Going back to the beginning of this post: If we are saved, and children of God, then according to John 15:15 we are called His friends. Wow, the God of this universe, who created all things and in Him all things hold together...He calls us His friends. That is some serious love that I will never be able to fully comprehend, but yet gives me so much hope. Look what it says in Romans 8:16-17-"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him." We are children of God, and co-heirs with Christ. Wow, it just keeps getting better.

So....all that to stay, toss out the Cosmo and People magazines you've been reading, along with the E Daily News deal or any other celebrity gossipp news feed and take up the Word. That is where our hope lies and that's where the Truth is. Let's be washed in the water of the Word and made more like Christ. Let's walk in victory over sin rather than defeat.

I've realized that it is so easy for the everyday cares of this world and time constraints (like a full-time job) to get in the way or help make excuses for not reading the Word. But the Word of God is truly my hope. I need it if I want to be fully effective with my kindergarteners everyday. Matthew 12:34 says, "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." I have seen that lived out at school...and the days where I'm in the Word and dwelling on the things of God, my speech towards my kids is more fruitful, full of peace, gentleness, and love...and my love towards them is self-sacrificing, rather than manipulative or partial. God's Word is "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit...joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Heb.4:12) The Word comforts, convicts, spurrs on, humbles us, shows us more of God, and makes us more like Him. (Jn. 17:17, Psalm 19, 2 Tim.3:15-17) But we must believe in its power and Truth or it will just be words.

God Almighty
Lord of Glory
You have called me friend
God Almighty
Lord of Glory
You have called me friend

I love you guys. Until next time, keep reading and believing in the power of the Word.

"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward." ~Psalm 19:7-11

Psalm 55:9-"This I know, that God is for me."

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