Friends of GOD and heart of GOD (II)

Last week, we understood that, the fact that Abraham’s heart was large enough to desire the best not only from people who were not his family members, but even to desire the salvation of people that GOD Himself had called despicable was one of the reasons why he became a friend of GOD.

Nowadays, we Christians often spend our time watching the news, not in order to pray and intercede for the world, but rather to comment, tweet or condemn. There is an earthquake somewhere? GOD must be judging them for…whatever. A typhoon has just devastated one area of the USA? GOD is judging the nation for all the aborted children! I speak of things that I’ve read on Christian forums more than once. I just wonder if all these people have ever actually spent time praying, fasting and leading for these nations before making such comments. GOD help us!

Before going on to the next biblical character, I first would like to draw our attention on the fact that GOD shared his secret with Abraham because He knew that Abraham would intercede. However, most of the time, we want GOD to reveal things to us – about people, the nation or in His Word – simply out of spiritual voyeurism or pride. We don’t plan to do anything concrete with the information. If we had been in Abraham’s shoes and GOD had told us about His plans for Sodom and Gomorrah, we would have probably either reacted like this: “Thank you LORD for this revelation. Please spare my nephew and his family” or like that: “Well, thank you LORD. Too bad for Lot! That ingrate betrayed me and he is now paying for it. I’m his uncle and yet, he dared chose the land before me (Gen 13.8-12) forgetting that I am the one who brought him out of Ur and made him rich.” And then we would have spread the news around: “GOD has revealed something to me. He’s going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah!” And, finally, after the events have taken place: “Did I not tell you?”

So, often, GOD doesn’t say anything to us because He is looking for someone who would plead and give Him arguments against what He has purposed to do; and He knows we are not that person. He is looking for advocates; criminal lawyers; and not gossip columnists or news broadcasters. This is the change that must take place in us, if we want to become friends of GOD.

Have a great week pleasing GOD and pleading for people.