Walking with God

     "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perect in his generations, and Noah walked with God."  Genesis 6:8-9
In Genesis 5:22 & 24, scripture says that Enoch walked with God. 
     Have you ever walked with anyone?  Sure you have!  Taking a walk with someone involves so much more than just the mechanics of putting one foot in front of another.  When we walk with another person, our steps match theirs - whether the pace is fast or slow.  We become in tune with that person with whom we are walking.  Companionship - fellowship is shared.  We have opted to spend time with that person -- to give of ourselves for them.  When Noah walked with God, he was giving himself to God.  Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord because he was looking for it.  God didn't just come drop it in his lap for no reason.  Noah was looking for -- seeking to find that grace.  And God rewarded him. 
Noah wanted to walk with God - wanted to spend time with Him --to match his steps with God's.  Noah and God were in sync with one another.  Imagine that! 
     People who walk with each other are usually in some type of relationship with one another.  They may be friends walking along together.  Parents and children often walk together and finally, sometimes  couples who are linked romantically may share a walk with one another.   Just for tonight, however, I want to talk about friends walking together.
     Abraham was called a friend of God.  Can you imagine the walk he had with our Maker?  I am referring to the relationship that Abraham had with our Father.  Abraham left all that he knew, left his family and the way of life that he knew to walk with God to a strange land.  But God said come, and Abraham did. Abraham loved the Lord.  Don't you love your friends?  You love spending time with them.  I think Abraham loved spending time with God, don't you? 
     Being God's friend doesn't mean that you disrespect HIm in any way.  Abraham knew that God was a supreme being --knew that He was all powerful, the one and only true and living God.  As a matter of fact, he counted on it.  You see Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac knowing that he was the promised son.  But Abraham had faith - truly believed -God would find a way to bring Isaac back if he killed Him.  That's how strong Abraham's faith was in His friend.  That's how much trust he had in the Lord.  That is how much respect he had for God's commandments.  He never doubted his friend.  And we shouldn't doubt God either.  He IS our friend.  He cares about what is going on in our lives. 
     Psalms 46:1 says "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."  I have some very good earthly friends that I turn to for strength -- for help in trouble.  But God -- our good and great God -is our true refuge and strength.  He is there when all others may fail or flee.  One of the elders at our congregation is a former (retired) high school football coach.  His team won state championship one year.  I remember my Dad talking once about praying for things like that.  He said that some may say that God doesn't care about football.  Dad said that may be true -- but he cares about the coach who is a faithful Christian.  I don't think there is anything wrong with turning to your Best Friend and asking for help in any area of your life.  You know --God put you here on this earth.  He knows you live in the world and so He wants to help you through it.  Most of all - He just wants to hear from you. 
     God wants to be our friend.  He is waiting to walk with us.  He wants us to come to Him -- to give of ourselves to Him.  That's what Noah did -- and he found grace in the sight of God.  That's what Abraham did and he was called a friend of God.  What will you do?

Christ above all things,
Robin