Becoming God's Friend: Understanding Your Growth from Servant to Friend

To grow toward friendship with God, we must see the world as he sees it.

In finding yourself in the three biblical images we discussed in this chapter the issue is not whether or not you are a servant, steward or son. You are all of those before Him. The issue is which imagery dominates your daily life and is the motivation of your faith.

You should never be afraid to fail while trying to live for God.

God's lingering work with Abraham succeeded in fulfilling his faith when he so freely trusted his relationship with God that his heart was free to open itself so that nothing within it was hidden from God. Not even his only son, for whom he had waited for over 20 years, stood between God and Abraham.

Abraham became the friend of God when faith removed from his heart all of the obstacles between them.

Family ties often cause that delay with us as do many other things. Be it career ambitions or pleasure-seeking activities or whatever holds our attention, these pursuits can halt our spiritual growth.

When God gave us all things that pertain to life and godliness, He told us the same thing. We are no longer servants, who need to be told what to do each day. We are friends, adults in faith, trusted with the principles needed to live as God would live in this world.

Abraham heard God's call and left Ur, never questioning why he should leave the sophisticated city. His eyes saw Ur as God saw Ur. Abraham was not blinded by the riches that international trade had brought to it. He was not satisfied with the bounty that the Sumerian’s mastery of irrigation had placed on his table. He could see Ur as something that

God always honors and repays gifts offered in His name.