Stride With God

For my morning devotion I choose to read from Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost for His Highest.”  Only 12 days following the “challenge” pastor Joel Loving presented in his sermon October 1, I find a reference of great interest…to me: Mr. Chambers is exploring Genesis 5:24 NRSV, “Enoch walked with God,” and suggests that it is in the ordinariness of our lives that our character and evidence of our “religious life” is revealed, rather than in the special or exceptional moments of life.

We speak often of our “spiritual walk or journey, which requires us, then, to “stride” with God, or, get into “stride” with God…and, let’s face it, it isn’t easy!  It’s painful; He is always way ahead of us before we even get started…But He still calls to us, encouraging us to catch up.  And the only way we will or can catch up is by accepting His willingness to train us and discipline us into His ways. And once that occurs, aren’t we in covenant with God?

Chambers writes that “It was said of Jesus – ‘He shall not fail nor be discouraged’,” because, says Chambers, “ He never worked from His own individual standpoint but always from the standpoint of His Father, and we have to learn to do the same.”  In other words, we need to see with new eyes, for we do not learn “truth” by intellectualizing, but by the Spirit, and then we see just how possible the impossible can be.  He calls us into union with Himself……to get “in stride” with Him…..and it is difficult, but remember, “It was said of Jesus – ‘He shall not fail nor be discouraged’.”  Enoch walked with God!  So can we; we simply need to trust that God as our trainer will make what seems impossible, possible in us.  Claim the covenant that “We Will Accomplish Our Task; We Will Not Fail Nor Be Discouraged.”  It is before us on the banner each Sunday and Wednesday as we worship together.  Let’s get in stride with God.  It’s not too much to ask of us, really!  And the blessings will replace the “pain” with “great joy.”  My testimony is that, truly, all things are possible in Christ. 

Delwood Bagley (Evangelists)