There has been much teaching on the role and position of the bondservant, which is necessary and good. However, this level of dedication and service to God must mature to another level, to that of “Friends of God”.
This relationship is very different to that of a bondservant. There are those in the Bible that are called bond servants of God. However, there were only two people in the Bible who were actually called a Friend of God. One was Moses, the other was Abraham.
JAMES 2:23 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.
EXODUS 33:11 11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
ISAIAH 41:8 8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
JOHN 15:15 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
This again is quite remarkable. Jesus clearly made a difference between a servant and a friend, saying that what I hear from my father I will share with my friends.
JOHN 3:29 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
This change of relationship is something that Jesus wants with us in these last days. However, it does require a deeper commitment and surrender to His will and His ways.
What motivates us is of great importance to God. Pure motives are of great value in the eyes of God. A pure heart is necessary for an intimate walk with God. Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived, said this:
PROVERBS 22:11 11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. Two things are mentioned here in relationship to friends of God: a pure heart; and gracious lips. We are told that out of the heart the mouth speaks. In other words, what we say is connected to a heart condition. A pure heart is the foundation for an intimate walk with God.
MATTHEW 5:8 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
It is interesting that when God decided to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, He first talked it over with Abraham His friend. This is quite astonishing.
GENESIS 18:17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
GENESIS 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? 26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. 27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: 28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake. 30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. 31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake. 32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake. 33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
Our destiny and the eternal puposes of God are about to be unveiled. Who you are and why you are here on planet earth will become plain and will be understood by many.
As we move on to the next level that God intends for us, we will begin to rise higher in our relationship with Him. The Lord is seeking those whom He can call His friends, who will walk in agreement with Him, overcoming the enemy and bringing heaven to earth. This level of sonship is what the whole of creation is waiting for.
ROMANS 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
There is in the hidden depths of every human being a sense of destiny and purpose, a calling of great worth.