Our neighbor had knee-replacement surgery this week. Dick
and I took care of her cat, Beej, while she was in the hospital. When we
unlocked the door, Beej was right there waiting for us. She rubbed her face on
our outstretched hands, then led the way to her bowl and demanded we fill it
immediately. The whole time we were getting her food and fresh water ready, she
was winding herself around our legs and meowing a tale of near starvation.
As soon as we put the bowl down, Beej gobbled up the food and ignored us. Her needs were met, and we were no longer important. If we stopped by at other times during the day, she greeted us for a bit but, when we didn’t offer her more food, she soon wandered off on a mission of her own.
Her behavior kind of reminded me of how many of us treat God. We are all attentive to Him when we need or want something. We pray lots, we make promises to be better individuals, we look to His word for comfort and encouragement. Then, after He gets us through our current “crisis”, we slack off and get distracted till the next time we are in dire straits.
That’s not the relationship God wants to have with us. Scripture after scripture encourages us to “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you."
In John 15:4 Jesus shares a great truth: "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."
God never abandons us. If we feel distant from Him, it’s not God who has moved; It’s us who have gotten distracted and wandered away. Micah 6:8 shares three things God requires of us: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with Him.
Our relationship with God shouldn’t be like we had with Beej this week—only getting near till we have our needs met. God wants a close, living, and abiding fellowship with us. He has reached out to each of us. Will you walk with Him?
Be encouraged!
