September 15, 2024
"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”
- Philippians 3:10 (KJV)
Fellowship is at the core of God’s purpose for creation. God’s first desire is for man to be in a meaningful and loving relationship with Him. The opportunity to walk closely with The All-knowing and loving God is incredible. And often, the natural result or product of having a deep relationship with God is the evident manifestation of His power in our lives.
In today’s devotional, we will examine the two broad kinds of relationships or interactions that most Christians have with God and how this enhances or hinders our ability to provoke His power in our lives.
The first kind of relationship that Christians have with God is a transactional relationship. When we relate with God in a transactional way, we only approach Him when we need things from Him. Our prayer life and communication with God is thus consumed by constant asking and petitions. The survival of such a relationship is solely dependent on receiving answers to prayers.
God’s first desire is for man to be in a meaningful and loving relationship with Him.
Once requests are unanswered by God within predefined timelines or deadlines, the transactional relationship is in trouble. Numbers 14: 21 – 23 provides an example of transactional relationship with God. The children of Israel were only after God for signs and wonders but were so quick to doubt and turn away from God when hardship struck.
If we take a moment to pause and think about this, no one will want to be in this kind of relationship—the kind where interactions are constantly geared toward getting something from us, not bothered about our wellbeing or getting to know us in a meaningful way. God feels the exact same way. He longs for a genuine and deep relationship with us.
A better way of interacting with God is by building a relational fellowship with Him. In a relational interaction with God, there is a deep desire to know God. Receiving the manifestation of God’s power, and answers to requests become secondary. Daniel 11: 32 puts it this way - those that know their God shall be strong and do exploits. Knowing God should be our primary desire and objective, then exploits and strength will follow as a result of that knowing. Sadly, we often want the exploits, power, and strength without truly getting to know God and building an intimate relationship with Him.
Those who strive to have a relationship with God will seek to know His ways while those who are in a transactional relationship with God are after His acts. Moses is an example of a man who was after God’s ways. Psalm 103:7 indicates that God revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.
He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. Psalm 103:7 (ESV)
Moses had such a deep knowledge of God that he knew what to do at every point in time to abate the wrath of God against the atrocities of the Israelites. These powerful insights could only have been obtained through intentional pursuit and fellowship with God. Today, God is calling us to a deeper relationship and fellowship with Him. To get to know Him and His character and not simply seek Him for what He can do for us.
Song of Worship
As the deer panteth for the water so my soul longeth after Thee. You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship Thee. You alone are my strength, my shield. To You alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship Thee.
Song As the Deer by Don Moen
Prayer - Dear Lord, please increase my hunger and thirst for a genuine and deep relationship with you. In Jesus name – Amen.
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