Sunday, May 09, 2004
40 Days of Purpose Day 12
Developing Your Friendship with God
Rick Warren begins this chapter with the statement, "You are as close to God as you choose to be." Why do you think you need to be close to God? Because He wants that relationship with you, and though it will take your time and energy, the results will be worth it. Like a best friend, you need to be willing to share your deepest thoughts, innermost feelings and be able to trust Him when He asks you to do something.
Choose to be honest with God Why do you need to be open and honest with God who knows you inside and out? Because He wants that communication with Him, and that you can open yourself to trusting Him with your deepest thoughts and fears. God is a patient listener, as Abraham and David found out. Remember, God doesn't expect you to be perfect in any way but He does insist on complete honesty.
Choose to obey God in faith Whenever you trust God with His wisdom and do whatever He says, you will deepen your friendship with God. We normally don't equate obiedience with friendship, but Jesus made it clear that it is a requirement for intimacy with God. Jesus said, in John 15:14, "You are my friends if you do what I command." Sometimes, people who don't believe God's promises in salvation and faith think that Christians obey out of obligation, fear or guilt. Because we are forgiven, we do so out of love. Because of that forgiveness, our obedience brings great joy!
Choose to value what God values. Friends care about their friends, and what is important about them. The more you become God's friend, the more He will care about you! Remember that what God care about the most is the redemption of His people, and that is one of the purposes we will talk about later this month.
You must desire friendship with God more than anything else. The Psalms are full of examples of the desire of friendship with God. David passionately desired to know God above all else, he used words such as longing, yearning, thirsting and hungering. He craved God. Paul was another who was passionate for a friendship with God. Nothing mattered more to Paul; it was his first priority, total focus, and the ultimate goal of his life. This is the reason God used Paul so much in such a great capacity. Remember, intimacy with God is a choice, not an accident.
Next time: Worship that pleases God.
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Rick Warren begins this chapter with the statement, "You are as close to God as you choose to be." Why do you think you need to be close to God? Because He wants that relationship with you, and though it will take your time and energy, the results will be worth it. Like a best friend, you need to be willing to share your deepest thoughts, innermost feelings and be able to trust Him when He asks you to do something.
Choose to be honest with God Why do you need to be open and honest with God who knows you inside and out? Because He wants that communication with Him, and that you can open yourself to trusting Him with your deepest thoughts and fears. God is a patient listener, as Abraham and David found out. Remember, God doesn't expect you to be perfect in any way but He does insist on complete honesty.
Choose to obey God in faith Whenever you trust God with His wisdom and do whatever He says, you will deepen your friendship with God. We normally don't equate obiedience with friendship, but Jesus made it clear that it is a requirement for intimacy with God. Jesus said, in John 15:14, "You are my friends if you do what I command." Sometimes, people who don't believe God's promises in salvation and faith think that Christians obey out of obligation, fear or guilt. Because we are forgiven, we do so out of love. Because of that forgiveness, our obedience brings great joy!
Choose to value what God values. Friends care about their friends, and what is important about them. The more you become God's friend, the more He will care about you! Remember that what God care about the most is the redemption of His people, and that is one of the purposes we will talk about later this month.
You must desire friendship with God more than anything else. The Psalms are full of examples of the desire of friendship with God. David passionately desired to know God above all else, he used words such as longing, yearning, thirsting and hungering. He craved God. Paul was another who was passionate for a friendship with God. Nothing mattered more to Paul; it was his first priority, total focus, and the ultimate goal of his life. This is the reason God used Paul so much in such a great capacity. Remember, intimacy with God is a choice, not an accident.
Next time: Worship that pleases God.
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