Devotions

You probably have various circles of friends that include your business world — your coworkers, partners or clients — and acquaintances you associate with on a surface level. We would have to leave the world altogether in order to avoid these kinds of contacts.

God cares most about your intimate circle, your bosom pals. These are the people you love most and who have an influence in your life. You agree on most things and you feel safe opening your heart to each other.

It is important to know that as a follower of Jesus, you will be tempted by Satan to form ungodly friendships. He will try to bring into your life someone who can destroy everything godly in you! You may think, “Wait a minute! I don’t want to start doubting my friends.” If you are true friends, knit together by the Spirit of Christ, you have nothing to fear in examining your relationships with them. But it would be wise for you to look at your friendships in the light of scripture.

A true, godly friend will always take the side of God’s Word in any matter, and not just your side because you are friends. Such a friend will love you enough to tell you the truth, even though it may hurt at times.

Beloved, your friends are a serious matter to God — because their actions have serious consequences. The Bible is very clear: “Make no friendship with an angry man … lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul” (Proverbs 22:24-25). “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Take a stand today. If you have ungodly friends in your inner circle, break them off. And always be alert to Satan’s attempts to put someone in your life who would destroy Christ’s work in you.

Pray this prayer today, “Lord, open my eyes to all my friendships. Help me to see them clearly, whether good or bad, and may all my relationships bring glory to you!”

God commands us not to fear our enemies. “You shall not be afraid of them” (Deuteronomy 7:18). For Israel, “them” represented the massive, well-armed heathen nations they faced in the Promised Land. For us today, “them” represents every problem, trouble and overwhelming difficulty we face in life.

God says we are not to fear, so no other explanation is needed. God is all powerful and he is aware of the satanic strongholds we face — every snare, trial and temptation. But he still says, “You shall not fear any of them!”

God told Abraham, a man living in a strange country and surrounded by powerful kings, not to fear. Abraham had no idea where he would end up but God promised to be his shield and exceedingly great reward (Genesis 15:1). God was telling Abraham, “You are going to face difficulties, but I will protect you through them all.” And Abraham responded by believing God’s word to him: “And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness” (15:6).

This same word came to Abraham’s son, Isaac. He also lived in a hostile environment, surrounded by Philistines who hated and harassed him. They wanted him off their land and Scripture says that the Philistines filled the wells Abraham had dug and left for Isaac (see Genesis 26:15). Isaac felt conflict his entire life and he must have thought at times, “God, why have you planted me here?” But God said: “Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants” (26:24).

We are also the children of Abraham and God makes the same promise to us he did to Abraham and his offspring: “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). Our heavenly father sees every step of our lives and in spite of all our crises and difficulties, he commands us again and again in Scripture, “Fear not!”

The Old Testament is filled with many accounts of the blessings that came to those who had the presence of God with them. These stories are meant to encourage and exhort us to seek God’s presence in our lives.

God’s presence was so evident in Abraham’s life that even the heathen around him recognized the difference between their lives and his: “Abimelech … spoke to Abraham, saying, ‘God is with you in all that you do’” (Genesis 21:22). This heathen king was saying, “Abraham, there’s something different about you. God guides you and blesses you wherever you go!”

God promised Joshua that no enemy could stand against him when God’s presence was with him: “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life … I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage” (Joshua 1:5-6). When God’s Spirit is present with us, we can be strong and courageous — because no enemy can harm us.

God told Gideon: “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor! … Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel” (Judges 6:12, 14). God was saying, “Gideon, there is a might in you that is so powerful, it can save Israel. And that might is my presence.” Even though Gideon lacked courage, God wanted to prove to him that any person can do great things when the Lord’s presence is with him.

God warned Jeremiah that the whole nation would turn against him and reject his prophecies. Yet God promised, “They shall fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you to save you and deliver you” (Jeremiah 15:20). God is saying, “It doesn’t matter if the whole country turns against you, Jeremiah. All that matters is that my presence is with you. Be confident of that!”

Seek him with all your heart and desire his presence in your daily life. Then you will experience the incredible glory of God.

Christians who are serious about their walk with God have a deep desire to know their heavenly Father better. Scripture plainly states, “No one has seen God at any time” (John 1:18). We know that God is a spirit and he is invisible to us, so how do we get to know the Father? I believe part of Jesus’ mission on earth was to reveal the heavenly Father’s human face to us.

Jesus told the disciples: “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him” (John 14:7). This declaration confused them and Philip even blurted out, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us” (14:8).

Jesus patiently answered because he knew Philip’s request was sincere. “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father, so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’” (14:9).

Jesus then turned and addressed all the disciples with a glorious promise: “At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you” (14:20). What an amazing conversation! Jesus was telling these men, “Look at me. Don’t you see that I am God clothed in human flesh? I am the essence of the Father — in nature, substance and character. Through me you see the face of God.”

A clear picture emerges: God sent his son to show us exactly what he is like. So, to know and see God, we first must know and see Christ. It is true that God has two sides because he is a God of justice, and we must “fear the Lord and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7). But his other side is goodness and unconditional love. We see this revealed in Jesus’ ministry. Everything Christ said and did revealed to us the marvelous lovingkindness of the Father.

Jesus had the heart of a servant and he calls us to servanthood. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8).

I want to give you six things Jesus would tell us today about serving:

• A servant does not care about his reputation.
• As a servant, we care more about what God thinks of us than what others think.
• A servant does not get frozen in self-doubt or over-introspection.
• A servant serves according to God’s plans and purposes, by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration.
• A servant performs his services without a hint of pride.
• A true servant serves as Jesus did — and the world sees a difference.

True servanthood is selfless, humble, and seeks the good of others — esteeming others more highly than we esteem ourselves. We don’t always feel like serving, of course. We may serve well when things are going smoothly but adverse circumstances tend to sap our energy for reaching out to others.

In accordance with the first point above, Jesus “made himself of no reputation.” Our attitude should mirror that of Jesus, who did not do things out of selfish ambition or a need for recognition. He put his own status and comforts aside to work for the good of those around him.

Does your life make a difference that the world takes note of? Rewards, public recognition or gratitude should not be our motivation to live out true servanthood the way Jesus did. But what pleasure it brings our Savior when we follow in his footsteps — and that is our true reward.