2001-01-31 - Walking With Him

Encore 98-10-14

Genesis 5:23 (NKJV) So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

My son (Bobby) and I once went on an YMCA Indian Guides camping trip. Now, my idea of camping and roughing it is when the motel does not have room service, so I was quite apprehensive about this "camping" business -- but very excited about having a father-son weekend. Around 100 dads and their sons went up to the foothills of North Carolina to a summer camp for kids. Our "tribe" has 11 dads and 11 boys. So there is quite a commotion when we are all together. After being in the cabin and running around outside awhile, I asked Bobby, "Hey little buddy, do you want to go on a little walk -- just the two of us?" His little eyes lit up and he exclaimed, "sure Dad!"

We did not walk very far, but the walk went a long way in bonding a father and his son. We held hands, explored the woods, ventured down some trails, and checked out the "mess hall", the zip line, the bow and arrow range and the firing range. We picked up some rocks along the way, talked about different trees and sometimes we just walked silently along -- looking in wonderment at a place neither of us had ever been. As the silence grew, I asked him, "Son, what are you thinking?" He replied, "I don't know, Dad; I was just thinking how great this is, just to be walking along with you." As I held back my tears, I said, "You know, Bobby, I was just thinking the same thing -- how great it is to be walking along together, just thinking about each other."

The Bible often speaks of "Walking in the Light," "Walking with Christ" or "Walking with God." Have you been on a walk with your Heavenly Father lately? Just walking, listening and thinking about God? I love what Mother Teresa told Dan Rather in an interview. Rather asked her what she did when she prayed, and the wise woman responded, "I listen." To which Dan Rather replied, "What does God do?" Mother Teresa said, "He listens." Have you taken a stroll lately with God? Have you listened to Him? Have you tried? Next time you get in your car, cut the radio off, roll up the windows and enjoy the silence. Get up early, go sit in a quiet place and just listen. Go for a walk with God. Just you and Him -- not you and 200 other people, not you and the radio, not you and the stresses bearing down on you, not the thoughts of worry and concerns. Just go for a walk and enjoy each other. Go let Him love on you, with you loving on Him. Go and listen.

Hebrews 11:5-6 (NKJV) By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

For three hundred sixty-five years, Enoch walked with God. Enoch was in close fellowship and communion with God though his wonderful faith in Him. Just as Bobby and I walked in wonderment of each other for that 30-minute stroll, I think Enoch walked for 365 years in wonderment of God. He never lost his wonderment for God. He never lost the, attitude of "Wow God, You do everything, You made everything, You are everything, You are my Hope, my Savior, my very Reason for being here." It was as if Enoch's wonderment kept his oneness with God all those years. And you know what I think? I think one day God said, "Enoch, we have been walking together all these years. Today, let's just walk on home." And then God took him home, to have an eternal walk and closeness with God. Have you taken a walk with God lately?

Dear Father, Increase in our hearts our wonderment of Your awesome, irrational love for us. Increase in us our desire to be one with You in our daily walk through life. Increase in us a hunger for Your Word in Your Bible, and a hunger to just slow down, to just stop, to just tune out the world, to just listen to You listening to us. In Jesus' precious name. Amen.

David Massey

david@e-devotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org
http://www.e-devotionals.org