Are We Willing To Be God's Friend?

As in the first century, many so-called “religious” folks today would prefer to see God perform mighty miracles or show them some kind of “sign” (Matthew 11:20-24; Matthew 16:1-4), rather than to have intimate fellowship with Him, obeying His commands (Psalm 103:18; cf. Matthew 7:21; 1 John 2:1-3).

In Psalm 103, the text says that God made known His mighty “acts to the children of Israel,” but to Moses He “made known His ways” (Psalm 103:7).

In Exodus 33:1-7, we see recorded a great crisis in which Moses humbly prayed: “If I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way” (Exodus 33:13).

Rather than see another mighty miracle from God, He wanted to know and understand God’s plans for His people. No wonder the Lord conversed with him “as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11).

The question is, “Are we willing to be God’s friend?” (John 15:14; cf. Matthew 12:50; James 2:23).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets