SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1353

“Do Life Together”

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6:8

Walking with God is to do life together with God. It is a continual, intimate, close relationship with our Savior – our friend who gave His life for us so that we may have eternal life with the Father.

A friend is more than an acquaintance. Jesus is the friend who sticks closer than a blood relative.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. – Proverbs 18:24

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. – John 15:15

True friendship requires reciprocity. Jesus gave His life for us. We, in turn, are to be obedient to the Word of God.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. – John 15:13-14

True friendship is steadfast. We all have friends who, although separated by time and distance, remain steadfast in friendship. On a phone call or a visit when passing through where they live you pick right up where you last left off. They remain there for you and you for them in fellowship and support.

Jesus is our steadfast friend with a difference: We are never separated from Him by time or distance. We do life with Him continually through His abiding presence.

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. – John 14:23

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. – John 15:9-10

Doing life with God involves dialog. When we do life with friends, we talk, and we listen. We share our hearts, joys, experiences, challenges, and sorrows. Doing life with God is a life of continual prayer.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. – Colossians 4:2

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. – Romans 12:12

Prayer is much more than a 911 emergency call.  We all have friends in our contact list speed dial for the occasional conversation. Our relationship with Jesus should not be relegated to that of only a 911 emergency help call. Doing life with Jesus is ‘leaving the line open’. It is continual prayer, praise, and thanksgiving throughout the day and night.

By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. – Psalm 42:8

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

May your Christian walk be much more than a religious affiliation. May you know the intimate abiding relationship of the Father, Son, and Spirit as you do life with God.