Day Twenty-seven = Please be my Friend

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24

Have you ever filled out an application for something that required a character reference? It wouldn’t make sense to choose someone who has different moral values than you. Further choosing someone who barely knows you would be absurd right? If I am choosing the best possible person to represent my character I would choose someone I am really close to. Someone who knows what I believe in and what my life is like.

Did you realize that the most important Character reference we will ever receive is going to come from Jesus Christ? He came to this earth as the “lamb who was slain” for our sins. (Rev 5:12) He is the reason a relationship with God is available to us. He is our intercessor between this wicked world that we navigate through and the Almighty God. (See Hebrews 7:25) He took on our sin at Calvary so that we would be able to receive grace and forgiveness for our sins. The book of revelations tells us that unless our name is written in the Lambs book of life we will be cast into hell. (See rev 20)

Since our eternal life depends on our name being written in the great book come judgment day, how do we get on the list? The answer is relationship. God has desired right relationship with his creation since the beginning of time. Try to think of the Lambs book of life as an address book for all of Jesus’ closest friends. If he knows you in a personal relationship then you are in the book. If you don’t spend time with Him, talking to Him, learning about Him and worshipping Him then He doesn’t know you as a personal friend so… why would He write you in His book? As you continue through your fast remember that the main reason for self-sacrifice is in an attempt to get closer to God. He wants nothing more than to know you personally and write your name on his friends list, the lamb’s book of life. So take the time to talk to God every day He will prove to be your closest friend.