James 2:23 – So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness,^[a] and he was called God’s friend. (HSCB) 

Exodus 33:11a – The Lord spoke with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend. (HCSB)

I have a fellow coffee loving friend who has a preschooler named Michael. Michael is always telling stories about things he and God did together when Michael was still in Heaven, before he was born here on earth. He and God have been to the movies together. He and God have been out to eat. He and God have chatted together, shared opinions, and shared secrets. Basically, they just sort of hung out doing what friends do. Michael sees himself and God as buddies. I couldn’t help but think of all the ways that adults see God compared to the way that Michael sees God. We picture a formidable and powerful God (which He is!) sitting on His great throne. Do we ever see a friendly and personable God waiting for us to crawl up beside Him just to be near Him? We know we can come before Him with our source of worry. Do we ever think about going to Him with a source of wonder? We know that He sees the tears of our great sadness. Do we ever see Him tickled at our great silliness? We see God as formal, someone to approach with a solemn attitude in times of need. Michael sees God as a friend, someone to approach with a sprightly attitude at any time. Maybe that’s one reason Jesus said to let the little children come to Him (Matthew 19:14). God is the creator of the universe, the knower of all things, the conqueror of death and the grave. The same God who spoke the world into being wants to whisper to me. The same God who knows all things wants to hear from me. The conqueror of death and the grave offers me eternal life. Come, let me introduce you to my friend!