I have recently been reading a book called A Severe Mercy. The autobiographical story follows the lives of a couple over the course of their short but loving marriage.  The author describes the early years of his marriage as being years of learning to “share.”  He and his wife decided that the best way to grow together was to share as many experiences as possible. So, aside from the common interests and ways of thinking they already shared, they committed to sharing in whatever new ideas, books, activities, or interests the other took up.  As they did, they grew in love and friendship.

It occurred to me that this idea of “sharing” is truly foundational to friendship.  And it is true of our relationship to God as well. Why do I love God? Well, partially because I LIKE Him.  And I like Him because we share so many things:  I love music- so does He, heaven is full of it;  I love exercise and activity and healthy eating: he loves the body too, that is why He made it His temple; I love the outdoors: so does He, He made all of creation and said “It is good.”  I love to study and think and He himself is called the Logos, or Logic, the namesake of this website….The list goes on and on. And so, with all experiences I have, all interests that I have, all feelings and thoughts and dreams I have- I can SHARE those with my God, my Friend, and He understands! I believe this is true for every human being, because all are made in His image- all have characteristics of God Himself, and thus can share the manifestations of those characteristics with Him.

How wonderful to know that God not only knows us, but relates to us. Isn’t it a wonderful feeling when you reach a level of friendship where your friend knows exactly what you mean without you even having to explain yourself?! The understanding between the two of you has grown from all the things you have shared with each other.  You KNOW them and they KNOW you.  Not just ABOUT you.

Psalm 25:14, TLB, says “Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence Him. With them alone He shares the secrets of His promises.”

Let us seek to be friends of God. I am sure that God is glad when we recognize Him as our Savior, our Creator, our King, even our Master, but I think He especially delights in being our Friend. Let us see Him as such, and give Him the pleasure of sharing His secrets with us.

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