"This is my lover, this is my friend."
Song of Solomon 5:16b
Song of Solomon 5:16b
Another way to say it would be, "The one who loves me is my best friend." It's a far-fetched concept for most of us, and the same was true for the Shulamite. It took her five chapters to connect the dots, transforming a religious notion to a personal reality but she got it, and so can you!
God wears a lot of hats for his children. Sometimes his authority is very evident - just like a policeman. A healthy fear is necessary to motivate people toward righteous choices. Often people stop with this view of God and never realize He has a tender side. God is also the ultimate physician, demonstrating His tenacious desire to heal and restore life throughout Scripture. He really cares about you! God is also the coach, eagerly guiding your life with Psalm 23 shepherd love. He cheers for you on the sidelines when no one else seems to notice. But the role He prefers to play is your best friend - to be your closest confidante and ultimate companion.
Jesus said, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I call you friends, for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:15). God made it clear that He wants to be known as your friend. This is not the same as a master/servant relationship limiting interaction to orders given and followed. Friendship with God is a constant exchange of warmth, love and affection. Friendship with God is on a heart level, where honest feelings and thoughts are verbalized. God wants to confide in you and reminisce with you about every "remember when". God wants to hang out with you simply because he enjoys you. The blurry picture of friendship with God comes into focus when you learn to see yourself as His best friend.
You see, the satisfaction of meaningful companionship is defined by reciprocating love. Without ever talking about it, two people gradually develop confidence that they mutually enjoy each other. This fosters depth in a friendship - the rare find of intimacy. This is what you were designed for. This is what God offers you.
God wears a lot of hats for his children. Sometimes his authority is very evident - just like a policeman. A healthy fear is necessary to motivate people toward righteous choices. Often people stop with this view of God and never realize He has a tender side. God is also the ultimate physician, demonstrating His tenacious desire to heal and restore life throughout Scripture. He really cares about you! God is also the coach, eagerly guiding your life with Psalm 23 shepherd love. He cheers for you on the sidelines when no one else seems to notice. But the role He prefers to play is your best friend - to be your closest confidante and ultimate companion.
Jesus said, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I call you friends, for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:15). God made it clear that He wants to be known as your friend. This is not the same as a master/servant relationship limiting interaction to orders given and followed. Friendship with God is a constant exchange of warmth, love and affection. Friendship with God is on a heart level, where honest feelings and thoughts are verbalized. God wants to confide in you and reminisce with you about every "remember when". God wants to hang out with you simply because he enjoys you. The blurry picture of friendship with God comes into focus when you learn to see yourself as His best friend.
You see, the satisfaction of meaningful companionship is defined by reciprocating love. Without ever talking about it, two people gradually develop confidence that they mutually enjoy each other. This fosters depth in a friendship - the rare find of intimacy. This is what you were designed for. This is what God offers you.
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