The Friend of God...?

One of the most profound statements that we have read and re-read in our small group's study, Secrets of the Vine, is the statement in John 15:14 where Jesus says, "You are my friends if you obey me." I am overwhelmed by this, considering my life and some of the decisions I have made, that GOD would even consider calling ME His FRIEND...

And then I am reminded of Abraham, the man in the Bible who was called God's friend. I am so grateful that Abraham's story is in the Bible (Genesis 12-25), because it reminds me that God doesn't expect me to be perfect to be His friend. One of the worst ways to read the Bible is to exalt the characters to a "larger than life" status, Reading the Bible this way causes us to feel inferior and unable to reach the heights that the men and women whose lives are recored in the Bible reached. But do you know anything about Abraham's life? Do you know that he was nowhere near perfect? Let me give you some details, and as I do, put yourself in his shoes - imagine if you did these things (or take comfort if you have done some of these things that you can still be a friend of God!):

• Abraham had a problem with lying (Genesis 12:10-13; 20:2);
• To make matters worse, when he lied, he lied about his wife and claimed she was his sister, thus turning her over to some magistrate's harem. In other words, his wife at two different times became part of a harem, subject to sexual slavery because Abraham didn't want to put himself in harm's way rather than trust God. Thank God that He intervened, because Sarah was probably ready to kill Abraham herself.
  
• He didn't rule his family very well, allowing Lot to "move his tents towards Sodom," a place of terrible immorality. There is more on this to come.
  
• Upon his wife Sarah's request, he married his servant so that he could have children.
  
• Abraham laughed at God in disbelief when God told him that Sarah would have a baby. God literally spoke to Abraham, and Abraham laughed at God!
• Abraham's nephew, Lot (who was entrusted into Abraham's care when his brother died) had to be dragged from Sodom when God was getting ready to judge it with fire and brimstone. Furthermore, Lot's two daughters then slept with their father to preserve their family line. Abraham had a dysfunctional family!

Abraham was not perfect, yet despite his imperfections, He obeyed God and believed in God's promises, even though he showed a huge lack of faith by laughing at God at one time. Abraham did do many great things for God, and was incredibly faithful. But he was also incredibly flawed.

Do you know why this is all significant? Because God uses ordinary, incredibly imperfect people to do His will, people who, though flawed, still have a desire to obey God. And if God could use Abraham, then He can use us. If God considered imperfect Abraham "the friend of God," then Jesus wasn't stretching the truth when He told His disciples, "You are my friends if you obey me."

Thank you, Lord, for giving me the example of Abraham, who despite his huge imperfections, followed you and was Your friend. Help me to obey You, so that I can also be Your "friend."