This verse gives us a potent key to understanding the secret of friendship with God, and it is given to us by God Himself in the person of Jesus. He tells you, His followers, “I have called you friends: for [because] all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known to you.” God says you are my friend because I make my Word known to you.

Do you see how easy it is to be called God's friend? His friend is the one who is ready to hear what He has to say, the one whom He shares His secrets with. When you give attention to the Word of God, you are demonstrating your readiness to be His friend and to receive his affection.

You are taking an interest in what interests God more than anything. What interests him is that His Word is heard and believed. Even as you are reading your GoodNews Daily devotional today, you are being a friend to God.