Friendship With God

January 28

READ Psalm 18:20–27.

Psalm 18:20–27 (TNIV)
20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God.
22 All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.
24 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.
27 You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.

Friendship with God. The word “faithful” (verse 25) refers to pledged love between covenant partners. God responds in kind (verses 25–26) so he can be not just a King but also a friend. Aristotle thought it impossible that humans could be friends with a god, because friends have things in common, and can say, “You, too?” But in becoming human, God’s first great act of friendship, he became like us, drawing near to us so we could draw near to him. Since he humbled himself to get near us, only the humble, not the haughty, can be his friends. In his second great act of friendship, he gave his life for us (John 15:13). In our suffering, then, we can look at Jesus and say, “You, too?”

Prayer: Lord, it seems unimaginable that the Lord of the universe would also be the friend of my heart, but so it is. Through listening to your Word, through honest and constant prayer, through serving you even as you loved me, let me grow in friendship and intimate fellowship with you.