Two weeks ago, I told you about a certain pastor who called God mukwano gwange (my friend) as she prayed. I could tell and feel that God was really her friend. For her to attain that great relationship with God, she definitely progressed through different stages that are taught in the Scriptures. Those of us who also want to become friends with God must go through the same exact stages.
The first level is when a person converts from whatever belief system and they become Christians. I believe that everyone reading this article is a Christian in the true Biblical sense. Therefore, you have already taken the first step to becoming a friend of God.
Now, Jesus does not want you to remain just a convert. You must grow to the second stage of becoming His disciple. In fact, Jesus did not tell the apostles to make converts but rather disciples. He said, “Go therefore and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). Many Christians think they are Jesus’ disciples. Unfortunately, Jesus does not think the same about them for these two reasons:
- They do not know His teachings as is expected of disciples (Matthew 28:19-20)
- Those who know His teachings do not observe them as required of disciples (Matthew 28:19-20)
Now, as far as becoming a disciple of Christ is concerned, the most important teaching of Jesus that must be known (and obeyed) is: You must forsake all that you have (Luke 14:33). Ponder on that.
After you have been counted a true disciple, the Lord will graduate you to the third and honorable stage of being His servant. Being a servant of God goes beyond obeying the written Word (logos). It also entails hearing and obeying His revealed word (rhema). Jesus said, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14). The ‘if’ in that verse is everything. Many Christians do not obey God’s rhema. Therefore, they are still a long way from becoming God’s friends.
When as a servant you consistently do what God commands, you will then become His friend. He will then tell you things that are only shared with friends. The apostles reached this level. Jesus told them, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15)
Many Christians are like my daughter and sweetheart Eden. When she saw the title of this article as I was writing it, she asked me what mukwano means. I told her it means a friend. I illustrated the lesson by telling her that, “Thelma at your school is your mukwano.” I ended the language class by letting her know that even God can become her mukwano. She looked me right in the face and said, “God is already my friend. He is my best friend.” Now, it is okay for an eight-year-old who knows very little of Jesus’ teachings to think that they are friends. However, a grown-up who does not read the Bible to learn and obey the teachings of the Lord is in deep deception if he or she thinks the Lord is their friend. That Christian is still just a convert.
When we learn and obey the Lord’s teachings, and when we obey the rhema, a day will then surely come when He will call us His friends. I am going for this. Please come with me.
God bless you.