What is your view of God? Do you see Him as a judge, a mean
looking old man with a furrowed brow waiting to punish you for your misdeeds? Or perhaps as a mischief-maker, playing dice and having a good laugh at our expense?

A man once told me his view of God as a judge, and that the reason he gives so much is because he is “preparing for the day of judgment” . This man although he did give a lot, never enjoyed it, or any of the works he felt he must do. He was always harsh with everyone, and always carried much stress with him wherever he went.

He asked me what my view of God was, and I answered “A friend”.  This man was stunned and taken aback by that answer. It was inconceivable for him to see God as a friend rather than a judge.

My friends today, we are called friends of God, not just as a term that a clever preacher made up but because Jesus Himself calls us such in John 15:13-15:

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” 

Now some are already wincing at the word “command” there that Jesus is using, but not to worry because a few verses below what we have read, Jesus tells us what His command is… To love one another. And for those of you who find that difficult, know that Jesus even helps us keep His own commandment to us!

You see, It is only by knowing that our own sins are forgiven and that our worth is not based on our works but by the sacrifice that was paid for us (Jesus) then we find value in ourselves and in others and are able to love them through Jesus.

This man whom I mentioned to you earlier that always felt demands on his life was very demand-minded and became very demanding to everyone around him.

Likewise, we who know that our debts are paid and are beloved by God, can free show mercy and grace and love to others because of Jesus, and so we naturally fulfill His commandments out of the overflow of love and grace which we receive from Him.

Those of you who have been coming here for a while now have probably heard me say before that “the lesser blessing is always included in the greater blessing”.

The greatest blessing we have received my friends is salvation from sins and death and hell. Within that blessings comes all the benefits of being sin-free and curses removed.

This is what enables us to love and be friends of God.

Yet some people do not know this… they do not know God and try to “fake it” through good words that are empty and good works that are void of love.

My friends, this is what is warned about in Galatians 6:9-10:

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting..” 

Here the Bible is talking about those doing vain works without any real heart of love, instead having false intentions or ulterior motives.

There is nothing wrong with good works, and further reading below the scriptures we just read reveals that good works are encouraged, but we must do them with the right heart!

Doing good in an attempt to earn something that Jesus already purchased for us is not profitable for us and demonstrates a lack of understanding of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Instead we find that if we truly take the time to know Jesus and see His glory and majesty and love for us – and actually become His friend – then we will be so filled with His love and peace that we will naturally do good just because we are truly filled with joy and love, of the type that only comes from God.

Notice the apostle in the verse in Galatians, calling vain works “sowing to the flesh”; in other words, doing god out of self-effort because we feel we have to.

Versus “sowing to the Spirit” Capital S; in other words, doing good out of the overflow of love, joy and peace received from the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ Jesus.

My friends, once we learn the truth of Jesus and actually become His friend, then things that once were hard because of our lack of understanding now become effortless.

Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. – John 8:32