Friendship with God
Do you know how to handle envy? Feeling jealous is not necessarily a bad thing, it can tell us what we need or want. We just need to know what to do with it. When we give our envy to God, he gets the chance to create something positive out of it. Yesterday I was envious of Moses’ friendship with God as I read about it.
The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. (Exodus 33:11, NIV,*)
I wanted what Moses had with God. So I told God so. And it did not take long before as a response I realized all who believe in Jesus are called to share a close friendship with God. We just pass it up way too often. How about you?
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (John 15:15-16, NIV,*)
Friendship with God…
Friendship with God is a privilege which we receive through Jesus, we should never forget that. Actually, we should bank our lives on it and bang on God’s door as often as possible. God craves authenticity and wants to have an organic connection with us. He wants to be our home in this world. How do we respond?
Are we too busy to find time to pray or do we regularly drop off our list of demands and run away? Or, maybe, we’re starting to understand faith is an invitation for an ongoing conversation with God. Isn’t it amazing that God wants to have open communication with us?
It’s beyond wonderful in my book. No need to pretend to be what we aren’t and no need to leave out the difficult parts of our lives. Open and honest communication is what God wants to have with us. And that’s in our best interest for sure. How wonderful that we can laugh or shed tears with our sweetest friend and fiercest advocate.
…is invigorating
The more we learn to share our life with Jesus, the more natural – and necessary – part of our life it becomes. In my opinion, the world can shut the door on my face as long as I have Jesus. Because friendship with God is the most invigorating thing I know. No matter how battered I feel from the battles of life, I am renewed in God’s presence.
So, my dear friend, if you envy Moses’ friendship with God, ask God to speak to you as one speaks to a friend too. Do not settle for anything less. Because this love liaison with God is what faith is all about. God wants us to live in Jesus, to continually be connected to him in every possible way. This is the sweet spot in the turbulent life. It’s heaven on earth right now. Don’t miss it.
Gracious God,
We are weary and exhausted,
we don’t have anything to give to you but our hearts.
But they are yours, Lord.
Help us, have mercy on us.
We envy what Moses had with you,
we want to experience the same level of intimacy with you.
Thankfully you sent Jesus to enable it.
Show us how it works in our everyday lives.
Teach us how to live organically with you.
We want to welcome your input in our lives,
stop us from non-stop talking or walking away without listening to you.
We want to enjoy you,
show us how to experience heaven on earth.
In Jesus’ precious name,
Amen
Q4U: Do you enjoy a close relationship with God?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you share everything with God!
Photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash.