Your Walk With God: Is It Full-Time or Part-Time? is a question that rings very loud in my spirit. I am confronted with it; and so are you! No one is in any serious doubt that you have a walk with God. In fact, many people know you to be a child of God; the question on the lips of the hosts of heaven is, "Is your walk with God on a full-time basis or a part-time basis?"
Before you go defensive on this matter; I must let you know that you are doing a great job already, walking with God, partnering with God and serving God on earth – in your community, city, church or country; however, like the proverbial Oliver Twist, more is desired from you. While you could ask, "Who does this more help?" I believe YOU!
You of all people know that God is in heaven, and He does whatever pleases Him; hence, if you must receive His blessing, approval or support on any project, business or venture; you must have a steady, consistent RELATIONSHIP with Him. He doesn't really NEED you as much as you need Him. While there are billions of people like you earth today; He is the ONLY true God that can be depended on who would never DISAPPOINT or FAIL you – He doesn't even take advantage of anyone – He doesn't need it.
Reading the book of Hosea 11 this morning; it became clear to me that God's call on our lives as His people isn't because He is desperate as it were for us; but because, we desperately NEED Him in our own circumstance.
Hosea 11 (NKJV)
God’s Continuing Love for Israel
11 “When Israel was a [a]child, I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son.
2 [b]As they called them,
So they went [c]from them;
They sacrificed to the Baals,
And burned incense to carved images.3 “I taught Ephraim to walk,
Taking them by [d]their arms;
But they did not know that I healed them.
4 I drew them with [e]gentle cords,
With bands of love,
And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their [f]neck.
I stooped and fed them.5 “He shall not return to the land of Egypt;
But the Assyrian shall be his king,
Because they refused to repent.
6 And the sword shall slash in his cities,
Devour his districts,
And consume them,
Because of their own counsels.
7 My people are bent on backsliding from Me.
Though [g]they call [h]to the Most High,
None at all exalt Him.8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I set you like Zeboiim?
My heart [i]churns within Me;
My sympathy is stirred.
9 I will not execute the fierceness of My anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man,
The Holy One in your midst;
And I will not [j]come with terror.10 “They shall walk after the Lord.
He will roar like a lion.
When He roars,
Then His sons shall come trembling from the west;
11 They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt,
Like a dove from the land of Assyria.
And I will let them dwell in their houses,”
Says the Lord.God’s Charge Against Ephraim
12 “Ephraim has encircled Me with lies,
And the house of Israel with deceit;
But Judah still walks with God,
Even with the [k]Holy One who is faithful.
One verse shows us what God truly desire from each one of us, and I want you to meditate quietly on it for a while:
12 “Ephraim has encircled Me with lies,
And the house of Israel with deceit;
But Judah still walks with God,
Even with the [k]Holy One who is faithful.
When you see a phrase like, "But Judah still walks with God"; what exactly do you think? Does it not tell you that it is possible for a people or a person to WALK with God (seasonally or occasionally) and it possible for a people or person to WALK with God (consistently or steadily)? While we all THINK we walk with God, we know His ways, we worship Him and perhaps GIVE to Him; only God knows those who really do. Claims notwithstanding, God knows the degree of everyone's walk with Him.
I may not know who your true friends are; but you should know – For only you know where the shoe pinches you! In same manner, people could think God has a lot of people who worship or serve Him; only God knows those who really do – IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH! Sincere worshipers of God are not easy to find, what isn't clear now for me is if you are a sincere follower of God – or you sincerely follow Him WHENEVER you have NEED for it.
Following God because of NEED doesn't endear you to God's heart; God isn't satisfied with SEASONAL friends, servants or students – God is looking (seeking) for men and women He can TRUST with His resources, who wouldn't run away as soon as they possess God's blessing. If you ask some people, when last did you PRAY to God? When they want to be free with you, they will tell you it's been a while. And usually, the last time they can remember was when they were in some TROUBLE. The question is, would you ever love to associate or trust someone who ONLY comes to you when in TROUBLE?
God loves fellowship as much as He wants you follow Him. Did you see that? We think God is looking for FOLLOWER-SHIP; but in reality, what God is seeking is FELLOWSHIP. God calls you His Friend, but you always want to come to Him only when in TROUBLE – are you a good friend of God? How often do you visit Him? How often do your read His word or hear His word? How promptly are you in obeying His Word? Are you now too busy or comfortable to read the Bible for a good while? Do you want your days of poverty or struggle to be your best days with God? Days when you were isolated or disregarded by men, when only God was willing to be with you and listen to your own words? Think about it! Does God deserve your part-time relationship or your full-time relationship? I rest my APPEAL!!!
