Friends with God
By Peter Crause
Mark
We
tend to be so servile and activity minded that we often miss the most important
part of our relationship with the Lord Jesus and our God. Consider the incident
when Jesus visited the home of Martha and her sister Mary. Martha was hustling
and bustling with activity, while Mary sat at Jesus feet and listened to Him.
Of course Martha got a little upset – she was busy and Mary was “lazing about”
– doing nothing – or so it seemed.
Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her. The response of the Lord Jesus is
very revealing to our meditation:
Luke 10:41-42 And Jesus answered
and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are concerned and troubled about many
things: But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which
shall not be taken away from her.
What
had Mary chosen that Martha was too busy to enjoy? Jesus said it was “that good part” – meaning what? Was sitting
idle good? Was shirking her responsibility to assist in serving good? Surely service is the apex of our interaction
with the Lord; and Martha was rising to the occasion grandly? Note that Jesus
did not reproach Martha for her service; but said that she lacked “one needful thing” – and Mary had it!
Our
scripture reference in Mark’s Gospel sets it out in the sequence our
interaction with God aught to be:
-
To be with Him; have a “friend to friend” relationship first and foremost. Jesus as a
man needed friends first
before they became His neophyte preachers. We sometimes get so taken up with
the Deity of Christ – and this should never
be minimized in its importance – but tend to forget the humanity of Jesus.
We know and believe Jesus is God; but tend to overlook the fact He is a person – with feelings and desires. So
Jesus chose twelve men to be associates and friends; people He could interact
with; share meals with; talk to one on one; teach; love; share His heart with;
trust!
-
That He might send them out to preach – secondarily! Unless we know Jesus as a friend, we cannot introduce
Him to others. We need to dispense with the “religiosity” that so frequently
marks the life of the Lord’s servants. Be friendly and introduce your best
friend to the world.
What
had Mary chosen? She chose to be with and honor Jesus; to sit at His feet and
be a friend. This was the best part;
this was what Martha lacked.
However,
before God became a man, He also sought and had friends:
James 2:23 and the scripture was fulfilled which says,
Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was
called the Friend of God.
Abraham was God’s friend. The scripture record shows
talking and discussing things of mutual interest between God and Abraham –
things friends do. What an honor – to be called the friend of God. They were friends who trusted and believed in
each other; friends who could talk freely to each other; friends who held no
secrets from each other.
Do
you think God still wants friends? I believe Jesus expressed fully what God was
and is like. He displayed fully what God desires. God demonstrated it in
Dear
ones, this “friendship” with our Lord must never degenerate into disrespect or casual
relationship. Our God is a jealous God; a consuming fire; demanding our all. He
must ever be the first in our lives. His word must take precedence over all
other reading we do. There is great joy and blessing in this. Remember He is
our Lord and God – yet desires a “friendship” with us.
John 15:14-15 you
are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I no
longer call you servants; for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does: but
I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have
made known unto you.
What
an honor it is that God in Christ Jesus would want us as His friends!
Pro
We
have such a friend dear ones. He will never become “unfriendly” towards us. He
is ever seeking out our company. “Where two or three are gathered together in
my Name, there am I.”
Be a
“Mary” today. Don’t dispense with your service to Him by any means; but choose
“the best part” first.
Sitting at the
feet of Jesus,
Oh, what words I hear Him say!
Happy place! so near, so precious!
May it find me
there each day.
Sitting at the
feet of Jesus,
I would look
upon the past;
For His love
has been so gracious,
It has won my
heart at last.
Sitting at the
feet of Jesus,
Where can mortal be more blest?
There I lay my
sins and sorrows
And, when
weary, find sweet rest.
Sitting at the
feet of Jesus,
There I love
to weep and pray,
While I from
His fullness gather
Grace and
comfort every day.