Wouldn’t it be amazing to be considered God’s Friend.  The Bible talks about Abraham and how he was A Friend of God. James 2:23 says, “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.” What did Abraham do that brought him so close to God that he was considered God’s friend? To answer this question, one must study the life of Abraham and his character.

Looking at the life of Abraham, he was a simple man. He prayed to God and kept his commandments. Genesis 12 tells us how he obeyed God and left his home. Every place Abraham stopped on his journey, he built an altar and prayed to the Lord. Genesis 13:4 says, “Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord. Abraham refused to take part in life of Sodom; he refused to take anything from the king also.  He allowed his nephew Lot to chose where he wanted to live, because their possessions were great and to keep peace among their cattlemen.

Abraham depended on the Lord for guidance. Genesis 15:6 says, “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Abraham was a man of faith, he kept the way of the Lord, he did justice and judgment (18:19). He obeyed God without question; God told him to sacrifice his only son, Issac. Genesis 22:3 says he rose up early in the morning, saddled his ass and took wood for the burnt offering, and went to the place God had told him. He was willing to sacrifice his son, because he believe that God was able to fulfill his promises. Hebrews 11:17-19 says, “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”

Today I would say that a person who truly wants to be a friend of God, must cleave to God no matter what.  They need to pray to God daily, several times a day.  Rely on God to lead you in your every day life.  Ask for his guidance in whatever you do and trust him to take care of your needs.  Give God the reverence he deserves, which means humbling yourself under his authority. Next, love his son, Jesus and thank him for his sacrifice on the cross for your sins. Last but not least, I would say worship and praise him.  God wants and deserves our praise and honor.  He is our creator and master.