LET GOD BE YOUR BEST FRIEND [PART 2]

SONG

I love Jesus, I love Jesus

He's my friend, He's my friend

I will never leave Him, I will never leave Him

He's my friend, He's my friend.

TEXT

"But this thing commanded I them, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people... But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward" (Jeremiah chapter 7 verses 23 to 24)

  GOD has always desired a good and cordial relationship between Himself and man. One of the reasons for creating man in His own Image and likeness was for the purpose of having  fellowship with him. The Bible says in the Book of Genesis chapter 3 verse 8 as follows:

 "And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden"

With regards to Adam and Eve, God would come in the cool of the day into the garden of Eden to fellowship with His creatures. This relationship was a very special one, different from the other creatures of God. This beautiful relationship continued until the fall of man.

     As I said in the previous devotional message, communication through communion is vital to a healthy relationship. Besides, walking with God demands an agreement of purpose between us and Him, failing which we shouldn't expect a strong, virile and a rewarding relationship with Him. The Bible posits the question in the Book Amos chapter 3 verse 3 saying,

"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

   In the same vein, for anyone to be a true friend of God, that person must be ready to agree and walk in the light of the Word of God. There's simply no two ways about it. Disobedience has no place in the sacred relationship between God and man.

Our Scripture reading for today says

  "But this thing commanded I them, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people..." From this Scripture, we note that what precludes the Lord from being our God and what robs us of the awesome benefits that accrue from being His people, is disobedience. God has promised to be our God and we, His people, if we can live in obedience to His Word. Disobedience doesn't only serve to estrange our relationship with Him, it spells very dire consequences for the disobedient.

     Let's live in obedience to God and to His Word and we will be assured of His unfailing love, power, strength and goodness, in Jesus name.

PRAYER

Thank You Heavenly Father for being my Friend. I receive all the benefits that are attendant to our friendship in Jesus' Mighty name.