God Was First to Say, "You Are My Friends"
                                By A. W. Tozer
 

  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down
  his life for his friends!   John 15:13

       The idea of the divine-human friendship originated
 with God. Had not God first said "Ye are my friends", it
 would be inexcusably brash for any man to say "I am a
 friend of God."

      But since He claims us for His friends, it is an act of
 unbelief to ignore or deny the relationship!

       Even though radically different from each other, two
 persons may enjoy the closest friendship for a lifetime;
 for it is not a requisite of friendship that the participants
 be alike in all things; it is enough that they be alike at the
 points  where  their  personalities  touch.  Harmony  is
 likeness at points of contact, and friendship is likeness
 where hearts merge.

      For this reason the whole idea of the divine-human
friendship is logical enough and entirely credible.  The
infinite  God  and  the  finite  man  can  merge  their
personalities in the tenderest, most satisfying friend-
ship.  In such relationship there is no idea of equality;
only of likeness where the heart of man meets the heart
of God!

     This likeness is possible because God at the first made
man in His own image and is now remaking men in the
image that was lost by sin. Perfection lies on God's side
but on man's side there are weaknesses of purpose, lack
of desire and small faith.

     In spite of human frailties we can grow in grace and
move progressively toward a more perfect experiential
union with God, exercising robust faith in the truths
revealed in the Scriptures!

Yours in Christ,
Paul N. F.