Read Genesis 3:8–13...

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8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Can you imagine what it must have been like for Adam and Eve to walk with God every day before sin entered the picture? Their conversations with Him seemed natural—almost familiar. Clearly, they had spent time together often. From the beginning, God wasn’t distant or aloof; He was building a relationship, a friendship, with His creation. Sadly, Adam and Eve damaged that relationship through disobedience.

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In 2 Chronicles 20:7, King Jehoshaphat referred to Abraham as God’s friend, echoing God’s own words in Isaiah 41:8. Jehoshaphat was likely hoping that God would be a friend to Judah that day as well—they desperately needed His help. The people of Judah knew God by two important names: Elohim, the mighty and awe-inspiring Creator, and Jehovah, the personal, promise-keeping God. This understanding gave them a healthy view of God’s character. And it’s a balance we need, too. God is not just our buddy or casual companion. Whether we're standing before crowds or sitting quietly alone, He is still Elohim—deserving of reverence and awe. Yet, because He is also Jehovah, we can experience close fellowship with Him. He reveals His nature to us because He desires for us to know Him.

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The clearest revelation of God’s heart, of course, came through Jesus. Who better to show us what friendship with God looks like? Jesus had many friends. He was close to His disciples and spent meaningful time with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Proverbs 18:24 (NLT) says, “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”—and that’s exactly who Jesus was to those around Him. In fact, Luke 7:34 even refers to Him as a "friend of sinners."

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Three Lessons from Jesus About Friendship with God:

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From Jesus’ life and words, we can learn at least three key truths about what it means to be friends with a holy God.

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1. God initiates the friendship.
Read John 15:13 and then verse 16. Jesus was preparing to lay down His life for His friends—a powerful act of love. But notice who made the first move. “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” J.I. Packer puts it well in Knowing God: “We do not make friends with God; God makes friends with us, bringing us to know Him by making His love known to us.”

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2. Some friendships with God are closer than others.
While all believers have access to God, Jesus' own relationships show that He was more intimately connected with some than others. Read John 15:15. Jesus told His disciples that He no longer called them servants but friends—because He had shared with them the things He heard from the Father. Among the twelve, He was especially close to Peter, James, and John. He chose them to witness His transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–2) and invited them to pray with Him in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32–33). Were they more important? Not necessarily—but it seems He trusted them in deeper ways.

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3. Friendship with Jesus requires obedience.
Jesus made this point unmistakably clear: “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14). Friendship with God isn’t casual or one-sided—it comes with a response. Obedience is the natural expression of love and trust in the One who calls us His friends.

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God desires more than just belief from us—He wants friendship. From the Garden of Eden to the teachings of Jesus, we see a God who walks closely with those who walk with Him. But this friendship isn’t casual. It’s built on reverence, trust, love, and obedience.

 

Jesus not only called us friends—He laid down His life to make it possible.

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Reflection Questions:

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1. How do you typically view your relationship with God—more like a formal duty or a personal friendship? Why?

2. What does the balance between God as Elohim (all-powerful) and Jehovah (relational) look like in your life? Do you lean more toward one than the other?

3. Jesus called His disciples friends because they knew His heart. How well do you know God’s heart through His Word and Spirit?

4. In what ways is God inviting you into deeper friendship through obedience today?

5. Can you identify one step you can take this week to cultivate your friendship with God—whether through prayer, worship, trust, or action?

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