The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Isaiah 41:8,
"But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend..."
Here the Lord calls Abraham his friend. What was it about Abraham that brought this friendship with the Lord?
We read in Genesis 15:6, "Abram [Abraham] believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness." Abraham was a man of faith in God. Paul quotes this verse in Romans 4:3. There, the Apostle Paul explains, "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.' Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.'"
This friendship with the Lord carries with it a right standing (righteousness) with or before the Lord. Abraham's faith in the Lord brought him all that friendship with the Lord has to offer, including eternal life!
What is exciting about this is pointed to by Paul in Romans 4:23-24, "The words 'it was credited to him [Abraham]' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead." Just as Abraham was credited with righteousness before the Lord, so can we! All he requires from us is the faith in him that Abraham manifested.
Consequently, Jesus calls all those who obey him as his friends, "You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:14. What is it he commands us? In that context he tells us his command is to love each other, John 15:12 (also John 13:34 and 15:17.) However in another place John says, "And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us." 1 John 3:23.
There are a lot of perks that come with being a friend of the Lord! All can be had by placing our faith and trust in him.
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend..."
Here the Lord calls Abraham his friend. What was it about Abraham that brought this friendship with the Lord?
We read in Genesis 15:6, "Abram [Abraham] believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness." Abraham was a man of faith in God. Paul quotes this verse in Romans 4:3. There, the Apostle Paul explains, "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.' Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.'"
This friendship with the Lord carries with it a right standing (righteousness) with or before the Lord. Abraham's faith in the Lord brought him all that friendship with the Lord has to offer, including eternal life!
What is exciting about this is pointed to by Paul in Romans 4:23-24, "The words 'it was credited to him [Abraham]' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead." Just as Abraham was credited with righteousness before the Lord, so can we! All he requires from us is the faith in him that Abraham manifested.
Consequently, Jesus calls all those who obey him as his friends, "You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:14. What is it he commands us? In that context he tells us his command is to love each other, John 15:12 (also John 13:34 and 15:17.) However in another place John says, "And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us." 1 John 3:23.
There are a lot of perks that come with being a friend of the Lord! All can be had by placing our faith and trust in him.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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