As I have begun reading the Bible this year, I have noticed a phrase that has appeared several times in the New Living Translation. In the early pages of Genesis, the Bible says that some people had a "close fellowship" with God.
“After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God." Genesis 5:22-24
“This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.” Genesis 6:9
Further study of the phrase "close fellowship" leads us to see that it means "in habitual fellowship." These early men walked with God all the time in a relationship that was so ceaseless, so recurrent, so routine that God did amazing things for them. Enoch just disappeared because God took him. Just took him. One minute he was there, the next he was not. (Genesis 5:24). And Noah? As the verse above said, he was the only righteous person on earth. So God saved him and his family when He sent a great flood to cover the earth.
Their companionship was not temporary. It was not a once a week visit. It was continual. It was constant. It was the real deal. So how did they achieve it? How in the world does anyone live in habitual fellowship with God? In other words, how do we walk with God day by day, moment by moment?
I'm no expert, but I think in order to have a close fellowship with someone, I think you need to spend time with them daily. I've been around my fair share of "important people" in my life (or people who think they are important), and when they say that are "close, personal" friends with someone else who might actually be important, I am suspicious. Do they talk to them daily? Do they even text them? Do they even have that person's cell phone number? Do they share their concerns or joys with that person? Or are they just acquainted? Are they just stalking that person's Twitter account? There's a big difference in being in close fellowship with someone or just being acquainted. I can tell you this right now - God does not want to be just acquainted with you! He wants to have a daily walk with you. Yes, HE wants to have a close fellowship with YOU! So go ahead and open that Bible. Start that devotional that your church is doing this year. Spend time in prayer and praise. Trust me, a relationship with the God of the Universe is the BEST close, personal relationship you could ever have!
“After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God." Genesis 5:22-24
“This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.” Genesis 6:9
Further study of the phrase "close fellowship" leads us to see that it means "in habitual fellowship." These early men walked with God all the time in a relationship that was so ceaseless, so recurrent, so routine that God did amazing things for them. Enoch just disappeared because God took him. Just took him. One minute he was there, the next he was not. (Genesis 5:24). And Noah? As the verse above said, he was the only righteous person on earth. So God saved him and his family when He sent a great flood to cover the earth.
Their companionship was not temporary. It was not a once a week visit. It was continual. It was constant. It was the real deal. So how did they achieve it? How in the world does anyone live in habitual fellowship with God? In other words, how do we walk with God day by day, moment by moment?
I'm no expert, but I think in order to have a close fellowship with someone, I think you need to spend time with them daily. I've been around my fair share of "important people" in my life (or people who think they are important), and when they say that are "close, personal" friends with someone else who might actually be important, I am suspicious. Do they talk to them daily? Do they even text them? Do they even have that person's cell phone number? Do they share their concerns or joys with that person? Or are they just acquainted? Are they just stalking that person's Twitter account? There's a big difference in being in close fellowship with someone or just being acquainted. I can tell you this right now - God does not want to be just acquainted with you! He wants to have a daily walk with you. Yes, HE wants to have a close fellowship with YOU! So go ahead and open that Bible. Start that devotional that your church is doing this year. Spend time in prayer and praise. Trust me, a relationship with the God of the Universe is the BEST close, personal relationship you could ever have!
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