Lesson 27: The Boldness of God’s Friends, part 2
It is when we draw near to God as the friend of the poor and the perishing that we may count on His friendliness; the righteous man who is the friend of the poor is very specially the friend of God. This gives wonderful liberty in prayer. Lord, I have a needy friend whom I must help. As a friend, I have undertaken to help him. In You I have a Friend, whose kindness and riches I know to be infinite: I am sure You will give me what I ask. If I, being evil, am ready to do for my friend what I can, how much more will You, Oh my heavenly Friend, now do for Your friend what he asks?
The question might suggest itself, whether the Fatherhood of God does not give such confidence in prayer, that the thought of His Friendship can hardly teach us anything more: a father is more than a friend. And yet, if we consider it, this pleading the friendship of God opens new wonders to us. That a child obtains what he asks of his father looks so perfectly natural, we almost count it the Father’s duty to give. But with a friend it is as if the kindness is more free, dependent, not on nature, but on sympathy and character. And then the relation of a child is more that of perfect dependence; two friends are more nearly on a level. And so our Lord, in seeking to unfold to us the spiritual mystery of prayer, would fain have us approach God in this relation too, as those whom He has acknowledged as His friends, whose mind and life are in sympathy with His.
But then we must be living as His friends. I am still a child even when a wanderer; but friendship depends upon the conduct. “You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.” “You see that faith was working with his works, and by works was faith made perfect; and the scripture was fulfilled which says, And Abraham believed God, and he was called the friend of God.” It is the Spirit, “the same Spirit,” that leads us that also bears witness to our acceptance with God; “likewise, also,” the same Spirit helps us in prayer. It is a life as the friend of God that gives the wonderful liberty to say: I have a friend to whom I can go even at midnight. And how much more when I go in the very spirit of that friendliness, demonstrating the very kindness I look for in God, seeking to help my friend as I want God to help me. When I come to God in prayer, He always looks to what the aim is of my petition. If it be merely for my own comfort or joy I seek His grace, I do not receive. But if I can say that it is that He may be glorified in my dispensing His blessings to others, I shall not ask in vain. Or if I ask for others, but want to wait until God has made me so rich, that it is no sacrifice or act of faith to aid them, I shall not receive. But if I can say that I have already undertaken for my needy friend, that in my poverty I have already begun the work of love, because I know I had a friend Who would help me, my prayer will be heard. Oh, we know not how much the plea avails; the friendship of earth looking in its need to the friendship of heaven: “He will give him as much as he needs.”
Prayer: Lord, may it now be the joy of my life to become the ambassador of my Rich Friend in heaven, to care for all the hungry and perishing, even at midnight, because I know MY FRIEND, who always gives to him who perseveres, because of his persistence, as many as he needs.