friendship

Who do you think of when you think of God?  What images fill your mind?  What is He like?  Who is He?  What does the word 'God' feel like in your gut?  Does it make you smile?  Squirm? 

I am fairly certain that your picture of God and my picture of God are not the same.  I don't mean picture, of course, in the literal visual sense.  I am not speaking of what we envision God actually looking like.  I, rather mean how we think of him being.  His character, what makes him - him.  God.  

For me, this has been the question on my mind for several weeks now.  How do I see God?  Because, I'm pretty sure, how I see him will affect how I serve him.  Wait, let me say that again.  The way I envision God, his character, his purpose, his very being, will directly impact the manner in which I live out my commitment to serve him.

With that thought filling every ounce of space in my brain (& there's likely plenty of open air there), I set out to discover God.  I'm guessing that the majority of what I think I know about God and who he is, is based on not-much-more than Sunday School lessons from years ago, a few adult Bible studies, worship music lyrics and tales (aka testimonies)  told by friends, family, acquaintances & complete strangers.  All excellent ways to learn bits and pieces about God, but lacking in one major area - personally getting to know him.  

But, is that even possible?  He is, of course, God.  It's not like I can make an appointment to meet and chat with him over coffee at Starbucks.  He is God.  

And yet, it is clear that we can know him.  Which is so much better than just knowing about him.  He has left us his words, as written and expressed by various authors throughout history in the Bible.  2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is God-breathed…"  So what it says about him is what he says about himself.  And he says that we can know him-know him.  Personally.  Like a close friend.

Job 29:4 - "Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house,…"

James 2:23 - "And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,' and he was called God's friend."

Scripture is clear.  You and I can be God's friend, we can have an intimate friendship with God.  With God.  That should blow us away.  Friendship with God.