GOD’S COMPANIONSHIP!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY AUGUST 12, 2023.

SUBJECT : GOD’S COMPANIONSHIP!

Memory verse: "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God." (Psalm 42 vs 1.)

READ: Exodus 33 vs 8 - 11:

33:8: So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. 

33:9: And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.

33:10: All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each one in his tent door.

33:11: So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend...

INTIMATION:

Throughout our lives, we look for those rare individuals with whom we feel relaxed and comfortable, and can share our heart, our secrets, and rest assured they will not betray us, who will always be there for us, and in whom we can have confidence—individuals we can respect and who in turn admire us and want us to be successful. God wants to be in that type of role with us, but He is even better than any earthly companion. 

For God is a perfect companion: the One who knows the road we are traveling on and all of the problems that lay ahead; the One who can give us dependable advice; the One who wants to share our life with us and will not put us down when we stumble; the One who will never desert us if we fail or do not live up to His standards. He accepts us just as we are, wants to be with us forever, is able to help us be all that we can be, and can enable us either to avoid or overcome every obstacle or problem in our lives.

Such companionship with God starts with a spiritual heart relationship with Him. In the passage we read today, Moses had such heart relationship with God, that he enjoyed the presence of God most times. God spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. If we desire God’s companionship, our heart relationship with God must be obedient response out of love. When we realize God's desire to be a Faithful Companion in our relationship, we find Him less an authority figure and more a desirable companion, Who is no less in charge in our lives. We now realize He is on our side, and wants the best for us. 

Unfortunately many people never really seek Him with all their hearts. To obey “from your heart” means to give yourself fully to God, to love Him “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22 vs 37). Many are content to learn as a child would. That is, learning and following rules in order to avoid big problems, but not as willing to spend any great period of time with the Lord in the free time they have. There is little delight in the relationship, only obedience out of necessity. Therefore, such people’s efforts to know and obey God’s commands can best be described as “halfhearted.” Consequently, they lose the best companionship they could ever get. 

Those who seek God and long to understand Him find eternal life. One of the special privileges we have as believers is sharing our heart with God, and in turn learning more about His heart toward us and others. We get to see His overwhelming goodness, infinite patience, unchanging love, and unending mercies as we read the Bible—His "Code of Conduct," and "Owner's Manual" to us. The Holy Spirit makes the Word come alive in our hearts and points things out from it that are specifically for us and our situation. 

A relationship that culminates into companionship entails learning from superior partner. As we spend time with God, our relationship allows us to learn about Him, about ourselves, and about others. We come to appreciate Him more as we get to know Him better. We become more relaxed in His presence as we now are His companion. 

Prayer: Abba Father, I desire You as my companion. Build in my heart Your steadfast Spirit, so as to follow and obey You in every aspect of my life. My utmost heart desire is an intimate relationship with You. Help me to accomplish this, in Jesus' Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!