by Emily Wooten
Exodus 33:11 And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaks unto his friend.
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Isaiah 41: 8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
Psalms 25:12-14 What man is he that fears the Lord? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
God has shown us his love throughout time. He has expressed how dear we are to him. The fact that Jesus was willing to lay down his position as God’s son in order to come to earth in a human body shows us God’s commitment to us and to his word.
What is our commitment to God? Can we say we call God our friend? Do we trust and obey with excitement? How many times does God have to speak to us before we hear and obey? One step, one day at a time, consistently choosing God’s way over our own–that is the way to success in pleasing God.
If we have chosen Jesus as our Lord we have been given the measure of faith. We have his word and with his help, we have the strength to make the next decision be a good one. If we don’t make choices on purpose, Satan will choose for us by pushing his will on us. He is an outlaw. We have to be consistent and stand on God’s word, being doers of the word in order to stop him. Many don’t know how to enforce the word and arrest bad behavior.
John 10:10 says that Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundant. It also says that the devil who is a thief comes to steal, kill and destroy (anyone he can). It is up to us to tell him no!
God’s covenant with us has enabled us to choose life. With that choice God our heavenly Father has also provided a way of escape from every obstacle. We are precious to him and he wants to spend time with us. As we communicate with God, we grow stronger. His Holy Spirit makes himself available to teach us if we listen.