How God Truly Views Us

How do you view God? Perhaps the more important thing we need to think about is this; how God truly views us. Some people see Him as unapproachable and indifferent. Other people think He is uncaring, insensible to anything we might face in life. Many assume that He makes mysterious and random choices in certain folks on whom He delights to shower blessings, and yet at the same time allowing – or even causing – others to suffer a destiny of pain and rejection. There are also those who see Him as a cosmic bully Who delights in death and destruction. While these various thoughts may be real to us, they are not based upon the truth of Who God is as revealed in His Word.

These misconceptions keep people from approaching the only One Who can make an eternal difference in their lives, robbing them of the chance to really live the life that’s available to them. By understanding how God truly views us we gain a proper appreciation and perspective of His attitude toward us, and it goes a long way in helping to guide our actions in how we relate to (and how we approach) Him.

“My friends.” Would it surprise you to know that this is how God truly views us, or at least how He views those who follow Him according to His Word? While it may offend some (and confuse others), God has not only labeled His followers as His servants but as His friends. His accepting attitude toward those who earnestly seek Him has been displayed many times in the Word of God, as it was with Abraham;

Isa 41:8

“But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend.”

God Himself called Abraham his friend! Why did He do this? Was there anything special about this one particular man? Yes, there was something special about him; he believed God and acted upon his faith. He didn’t simply acknowledge God, he heard His Word and followed Him. In fact, God placed such profound emphasis on Abraham’s faithful obedience that “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

While Israel is called His servant (because they followed the religious observance of the Law), Abraham is called His friend because he also actively sought the Giver of the Law. Abraham wanted to seek God for Who He is, not just to follow His directions (as his servant) but to know His heart (as his Father).

The theme of a God-defined friendship was addressed again while Jesus taught His disciples;

John 15:14-15

“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 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.”

While it’s true that Jesus taught many things to the multitudes, He didn’t share His most powerful or revelatory teachings with just anyone. He reserved detailed explanations and instructions for those who sought Him and consistently followed Him – those who were His disciples (and not just the 12 Apostles, either!). These are the people He calls His friends.

That intimate sharing continues today through the indwelling Holy Spirit, given to those of us who consistently seek God for Who He is and not just for what He does. By faithfully obeying His Word we prove our motivation and sincerity in wanting to approach God for the right reasons. It shows the consistency of our character and allows God to know us intimately.

True friends eventually share their innermost thoughts and desires. Where do you think we get that desire for intimacy and fellowship from? It comes from the way we are created, “…in His image, and in His likeness.” It’s why God desired to create Adam and Eve in the first place, to have communion with them. To fellowship with them. To be a Father to them.

Although Adam and Eve rejected that fellowship, God still desires to bridge the gap created by sin in order to establish an individual relationship with each one of us, their descendants. The only thing that determines the extent of our relationship with Him is the commitment and consistency we employ in approaching Him, and in believing what He says in His Word. This is why Jesus referred to His disciples as His friends, and not the multitude of people following Him.

This is the principle Jesus expounded on as He talked with His disciples, and this same principle was also embodied in what was told to Abraham centuries earlier;

Gen 18:17-19

And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”

God didn’t show favoritism to Abraham simply because Abraham was a nice guy. Neither did God share with him because Abraham was especially religious (by simply following religious requirements), but because he sought Him sincerely and consistently from the heart. Abraham was unswerving in his seeking and obeying God, and by that unswerving obedience God knew him. While Abraham made mistakes (don’t we all?), God knew his heart attitude as he continuously came to Him. Abraham followed God as his Father, and God responded by calling Abraham His friend.

So then, what does it mean to have God as your Father? It means you rely upon and trust Him to lead and guide you through life. It means you depend upon Him through both good times and bad times. It means that you realize how He views you, and that you believe He wants to be the Father He desires to be! It means that you seek Him – not for what He can do for you but for Who He is. It means that your affection and attention is an ongoing and lifelong process, not a once-in-a-while event. It means that you, like Abraham, believe God and act on your faith.