Become God’s Friend (3)

If you’re serious about becoming God’s friend you must choose to obey Him! Jesus said, ‘If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love...’ (John 15:10 NKJV) You say, ‘But if I fail, does that mean God won’t love me?’ No, it means you won’t feel His love, or have confidence when you approach Him in prayer. We normally think obedience is something you do for your parent, your boss or a superior officer, not something you do for a friend. But Jesus said, ‘You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.’ (John 15:14 NKJV)

True friendship isn’t passive, it acts. When Jesus asks us to love people, help the needy, give our finances, live clean lives, extend forgiveness and bring others to Him—our love should motivate us to obey immediately! Great opportunities usually come once or twice in a lifetime, but small ones come every day. Through simple acts of obedience we bring a smile to God’s face. ‘...What pleases the Lord more… sacrifices or obedience…? It is better to obey...’ (1 Samuel 15:22 NCV) At the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, God announced, ‘...This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ (Matthew 3:17 NKJV) So, what had Jesus been doing for 30 years that pleased God? The Bible says nothing except that He lived at home with His parents and ‘...was obedient to them.’ (Luke 2:51 NLT). Thirty years of pleasing God were summed up in these four words! And the relationship Jesus had with His Father is an example of the one He wants you to have with Him.