The St. Louis Republic., 1903-10-12


Pastor OF the Delmar Avenue Baptist
Church.
street a poor. ragged boy. You would
very likely pity him. and might say, That
poor boy had wicked surroundings and he
viii grow up bad man. for he has no one
to show him now to live an honest life
IF YOU wished that YOU might become
friends. what would be the first thing TO
do? Would yOU not have to tell him so2
God took the Initiative. Abraham re-
sponded, and as result A1r$ nam :
and illustrious OF all history. Jews, Turks.
MOors. Arabs. peoples who know nothing
OF Caesar. Alexander. Napoleon or even
Jesus. hold in reverence the name OF
Abraham.
First. God distinguished Abraham as
his friend by the beStOwal OF great gifts
He gave him not only exceedingly great
and precious promises. but actually ful-
filed them IL all their extent, either TO
himself or his seed after him All the
became the father Of many mighty na-
tiOns. and in him all the families OF the
earth have been blessed
He IS also the ancestor or a double
race of Kings. EuglaudS crown traces
its royal blood back TO Abraham
Again he is called the father or tho
faithful. His p"Stellty becaihe Sl,dt'
great in numbers hut greatest ot al ~
influence. The promise that IN MIN ait
tn, nations should he blessed Is m r'lrt
realized and is still being fulfilled: Tor
Christ
But Abraham's most distinguished title
was this. The friend OF Cod lfir q ulUn-
icler Isaiah and James all rcit'rate TINS
.Nhat a beautiful picture OF Jehovs's
communion with him in that scene on the
plains Of Mamre. We can almost see
Abraham sitting beside the door Of hts
spacious tent and Sarah within. busy Win
her household duties. II Is hEh noon. tile
floCks and herds are grazing aTDuih. MIll-
the hot rayS OF the sun beam upon thai
fertile plain. Suddenly Abraham niiS ElS
ewes and beholds three messengers ap-
preaching. With true Oriental hospitality
he gives these strangers cordial wei
come. One OF the strangers proves To ne
the Lord. who was attended by tW" anEe!S
in visible form. Here Jehovah colnlnuIltu
with Abraham a. A friend with friend
Again God distinguished Abraham 'ts
his friend by perfect "uHhdeuCe IN nun;
He sUnf!ipd in him. After Jehovah hstd
eaten with Abraham and renewed hiS
covenant with him, Hr passed un toWal q
Sod m. Suddenly nc stopped and said.
Shall ] hide from Abraham the thing
which dog' We are all familiar with the
story Of how Jehovah was on his Way 10
that wicked city in which Lot dWci. Hear
this from Abraham. my friend tie told
him. therefore. Of tho Judgment Nhich nc
WAS about TO execute on tho guilty CITY.
What juv it brings To- our hearts when
some de9r friend considers us worthy Of
their deepest heart secret Nhcn lney
come TO MS unsolicited with their burdens,
their JOYS ana lutuTe fldii--
But there must he reciprocity m al
true friendship. s nnC-Sidcd friendship IS
unknown. an impnSSibiity.
Notice how Abraham first. ny his
steady faith. responded to Gods call to
friendship. Faith WAS the grace for which
he w.lS most remarkable. the one in which
he most e~celled. He Is called father Of
the faithful the friend OF God because
OF his faithfulness to God.
Again. Abraham WIS devoted to God
He appreciated him, he loved him " her
ever Abraham rested as he Travelled from
place to place through the land which was
some day to b. possessed by his posterity.
there he built an altar unto tlLc Lord
God was ever in his thoughts. His inter
Of his freedom. fellowship and intimacy
with God.
Note. also. Abraham's willing. cheerful
obedience TO God. He surrendered his will
10 Gods vision. His life was a God-or-
Gered one We have many proofs OF this.
His going ont from his fathers house. not
'knORinE wither lp went. was In ubcdl-
ence 10 tho Lord $ command. But the mo-
{ blcSt proof OF tho patTia-rh's ohe,ilcuCe
relates t. the sacrifice OF his only son.
Friends. the same responsiveness must
he enact ON YOUR part II Eou are 90 I've
a friend Of God. The same characteristics
which Abraham emphasized must exist in
God has already taken the initiative with
you Tic has como 10 you and spoken to
yo1I through his Son. pleading FOR you-
friendship. VIII YOU respond
He also nrott CTS YOU personal Cpmuun-
ion with himSclf-intimate fellowship with
Jesus Christ Again he desires To make
coufidsnt Of you All these privileges and
moro belong To the called Of God. but II
we would be benefited by them we must
be faithful. devoted and obedfcnt -