Friendship With Jesusનમૂનો

The Two Most Important Friendship Questions

Welcome to this seven-day journey of developing your friendship with Jesus. The goal of this plan is for you to encounter Jesus, take him at his word and follow him. Each lesson will introduce an important biblical concept and will build upon the prior content. The key to your growth will be putting into practice the simple “patterns” that will help you experience consistent intimacy with Jesus.

These “patterns” build upon the foundation of the classic practices (disciplines) accepted in the various church traditions. I won’t ask you to believe anything new. I will ask you to take more seriously what God has already said.

In the book of Genesis, we read that God created the heavens and the earth. After creating animal, plant and marine life, he created Adam to dwell with him in a perfect garden. He made Adam in his own image with the ability to speak, listen, reason, and trust. God created him (and us) with the ability to live in relationship with others, to love and be loved.

God gave Adam broad freedom to enjoy all he created. He gave only one prohibition: don’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If he did, he would die (Genesis 2:16-17). He then made Eve so Adam would have an earthly companion and helper. This leads us to the scene where two of the most important questions in history are asked, one by the serpent and one by God. These two questions are seven words in most English translations.

He (the serpent) said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1, NIV).

But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”(Genesis 3:9, NIV).

These two questions frame all of life. The first asks if I will trust in what God has said. The second question asks if I’m leaning into God or moving away from him. In the beginning of Genesis, God has given his blessing, his promises, and his pathway. The adversary — the serpent — calls this truth into question, leading Adam and Eve to turn away from a friendship with God and hide in the shadows. As a loving father, God pursues us all day long. When we stray, he calls us back. He gives us freedom to turn to him or stay in the shadows.

As a 20-year-old student at the University of Maryland, God called to me: “Clyde, where are you?” Over a 12-month period, he called me from behind my shame and indifference. I finally yielded my life fully and discovered the heart of God who calls to everyone saying:

“I created you to stand before me in shameless glory. Each morning I wait for you. You don't need to hide behind indifference, shame, fear, and uncertainty. I see you. I love you. I created you. I want to spend time with you. I want to walk with you. I am calling you by name to come out from behind the things that distract you. Come and walk with me in friendship.”

God first showed his deep love in creation. He loved the children of Israel like a parent (Isaiah 66:13), a bridegroom (Song of Songs 2:4) and a rescuer (Zephaniah 3:17). His ultimate act of love was sending his son Jesus to bear the consequences of our turning away from him.

When Jesus enters our lives, he takes away our shame. But every step of every day is a choice. Will I believe what God has said and answer with “Here I am”? Or will I veer toward the shadows?

Pattern

Each of us is a product of our patterns. Patterns are those regular practices we build our lives upon that determine who we are becoming. For example, I spend the first 30 to 60 minutes of each day in prayer and study of Scripture to draw near to God's heart. In each lesson, I’ll invite you to adopt one pattern or practice. This is an application of the lesson’s key idea. Here is the first one:

Whenever you become aware you are not in conscious fellowship with God, stop and say, “Here I am, Lord.” If you’ve become distracted, answer his “Where are you?” with “Here I am, Lord.” If you’ve strayed from his path, answer with “I am sorry I hid from you; here I am, Lord.”

Overcoming the objection

What if I have just become busy and haven’t thought about the Father for several hours? He is patient and kind. He is always ready to come back into your awareness. You have never left his.

Prayer

Father, I choose to trust your word and not the insinuations of the adversary. Help me to discern when the enemy is leading me away from you.