It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day seven in the seventh week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Friendship With God

“You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.   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.   You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.“
James 2:22-24 (NIV)

How would you describe your relationship with God?  How do you think God would describe it?  Is it easy or difficult for you to think of yourself as God’s friend?  Why?  What would you need to do for your friendship with God to grow?  Are you doing it?  What would He need to do?  Has He done it?  What role does belief have in your friendship with God?  How does a growing friendship with God help you as you serve? 

Sometimes we know ourselves so well that the idea of friendship with God seems impossible.  Fortunately, God knows us even better than we know our self and He desires that we would be friends with Him.  Our friendship with God forms and grows much like any other.  It involves a belief that He desires such a friendship and a growing trust that He will honor our relationship with Him.  When we have a friendship with God that is pure, we are able to know how to serve through friendship in ways that please God.

As you pray, ask God to remove any doubts you may have about His desire for you to be His friend.  Pray that you would understand God’s perspective on belief, action, and friendship as you apply those attributes in the way you serve.

In prayer,

Tom