Today’s Bible Journaling verse comes from Job 29:4, “As I was in the prime of my days, When the friendship of God was over my tent;” (NASB 1995) Job was thinking about how God’s friendship had covered him. Job knew that God was his friend! God is our Friend also! Isn’t that an awesome thought? He’s the best Friend we could ever have! Today we are going to look at ways that God shows that He is our Friend.
Jesus is the Friend of Sinners. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 165:13 KJV) Jesus’ whole purpose was to save those who were lost. He wanted a relationship with them so that He could reach those who rejected Him and turn that rejection into a love for Him. To allow them to receive Him as Lord and Savior, He had to befriend them. He showed His friendship by His death, burial, and resurrection. He sacrificed His life so that sinners could have a relationship with Him just as He desired. He still desires that relationship and seeks out those who are lost. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)
God is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother. “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 KJV) Proverbs tells us that God is so close to us, He’s closer than even those who are family! He knows everything about us and yet, He still loves us. He walks with us every step and desires a close relationship with us. “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…” (James 4:8 ESV) He wants us to come to Him and invite Him into our hearts and lives so that we can walk together. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20 NIV) He desires fellowship with us!
God is a Friend who is ready to help us. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 NIV) When we find ourselves in a battle against our Spiritual enemy, He is right there to help us. Only a friend would stand with us in the middle of difficult times. When the enemy throws his fiery darts at us, God is there to quench those darts. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you…” (Isaiah 43:2-4 ESV)
He also helps us in showing His blessings toward us, His friends. “…by the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, and blessings of the breasts and the womb.” (Genesis 49:25 CSB)
God shows His friendship in so many ways, it’s hard to count them all. We can rest in peace and contentment knowing we have such an incredible Friend. If you don’t have Jesus as Lord, Savior, Master, and FRIEND, today is a good day to ask Him to be that Friend, the One who sticks closer than a brother! Then you can say as Job said, “the friendship of God was over my tent.”
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