Obeying God!

My wife and I WALKED different places together today. Now, you may be saying, "What? Different places, but together?"! Of course that doesn't make sense and if such depicted our life, my wife and I would not have much of a relationship. It takes a willingness to agree upon and move the same direction for a relationship to thrive and survive.

The nation of Israel was exhorted to WALK in God's statutes and observe His commands. If this was done God would continue to bring blessings to them. ( Leviticus 26:3ff) However, if the nation WALKED "contrary" to Him, then He would be against them. ( Leviticus 26:21) The Hebrew translated "contrary" carries the idea of "opposition, contrariness, encounter, contrary or hostile encounter" (Strong's Concordance), so it only stands to reason if one WALKS in opposition to God, God would stand in opposition against them. To refuse to WALK with God is to place oneself in a hostile relationship with Him. Even Jesus clearly implied there is no middle of the road in the relationship with Him. (note Matthew 12:30)

In Amos we read.
"Do two walk together, unless they have AGREED TO MEET?" ( Amos 3:3 ESV)

The New Living Translation reads. "Can two people walk together WITHOUT AGREEING ON THE DIRECTION?" [NLT, © 1997, Tyndale House]

Regardless of our claims, unless we are WALKING the direction God is going we are not WALKING with Him. Obeying God is to WALK with Him and whenever we see we are not WALKING together, it is never God Who needs to change direction, but rather us! God has set the course and we need to "agree" with Him to WALK in it. To do anything else is to be found WALKING in opposition or hostility to Him. Unless we WALK with God we will find ourselves involved in a hostile encounter with Him. Why place ourselves in the wrath from which Jesus provided the means to deliver us? ( Romans 5:9)

We don't know a lot about Enoch except that he WALKED with God and God took Him. ( Genesis 5:24) May that be descriptive of our life as well so that we can be assured of God's eventual taking us home. Let us be mindful of continuing to WALK with God in the direction He has set. Such a WALK will be found to be one of sweet communion.

Have a great day AGREEING WITH GOD BY WALKING HIS DIRECTION!
Carl

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