God is Our Friend

“So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5:11 NLT

I looked up the word friend in the dictionary. (I couldn’t resist!)

Friend (noun): derived from an Indo-European root meaning ‘to love’

• a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another

• one attached to another by affection or esteem

• someone who is not an enemy, who is on the same side

• a favored companion

So, this is what it means to be God’s friend? 

Attached by affection. On the same side. A favored companion. Especially loved.

Really?

We can’t even be Facebook friends with celebrities, much less “real” friends. We can’t even get near our favorite actors or musicians or speakers most of the time. But to the God of the universe, we are not just part of a large crowd of admirers. He sees us as so much more valuable than fans or followers.

He brings us right up close, loves us into his circle, and calls us His friends.

One of the best things about true friends is that they let us be ourselves.  They really know us, and they like us just the way we are. Weird parts, irritating parts, fun parts, and all.

That’s how Jesus is. He has such a strong liking, such a deep affection for us. He wants to spend time with us, He enjoys who we are, and He cares about everything in our lives. He is on our side.

Hold on to Jesus~

Thank Him for accepting you exactly the way you are and calling you "friend". Try to imagine Jesus right beside you, supporting you and encouraging you as you go through this day. He will help you to live in the joy of knowing that you are His favored companion, completely known and especially loved by Him.

What is your favorite thing about being Jesus’ friend?