Is there someone you feel particularly blessed to call your friend? Imagine asking Abraham that question! Scripture does not tell us at what point in their relationship Abraham received God’s commendation “Abraham my friend.” His descendants knew him as God’s friend (2 Chronicles 20:7). How wonderful to be remembered this way!


Centuries later James explained why Abraham enjoyed this standing with his Lord. “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend” (2:23). Today every true believer in Jesus Christ knows this same divine-human relationship. Jesus told us, “You are my friends” (John 15:14). As such, we experience many privileges of friendship (see John 15:15-16).


The friendships we know in our lives – even our most precious ones – are just pointers to the perfect friendship we can know with Jesus. He said there was no greater love than in laying down one’s life for his friends. But He went farther than just saying those words; by dying for us, He lived them!