S) "13 Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people."
Exodus 33:13 (NASB)
O) Moses understood that to know God was the only way to please God. How could he lead the Israelites in the ways of the LORD, if His ways were still unknown? What really grabbed my attention about this verse, though, was that Moses did not simply want to know God's ways, His ordinances, His rules. Moses wanted to know who God is. He wanted to know His character, His will, His personhood. Moses wanted relationship, not just rules.
A) This is like the difference between me wanting to know how to get on my wife's good side, and wanting to know who my wife is. When my wife and I were dating, I wanted to know everything I could about her. I was studying her, learning about her, and I was eager and happy to do it. Her interests started to become my interests. Our conversations were long, frequent, and happy. This is how the early stages of Christian life often look. However, just as with a marriage, some of that passionate pursuit can lose fervor. It takes committed determination to continue with that kind of attention, and intention with my wife. The same is true in my relationship with God. I must be careful that my prayer time is not simply a request line. I should be able to tell God about my day without asking Him to fix everything. When I read the Word, it should not simply be mining for topical information, I should be studying to know Him better. My approach to our relationship should be steady and intentional, not sporadic or rushed. I must seek God for relationship, not just for rules to avoid hell.
P) Father, I love You Lord. I sing that often, but I am a little embarrassed to realize I don't say it often. I speak thanks for Your grace and mercy, but I don't often slow down and simply tell You that I love You. Open my eyes and ears, Father God, that when I read Your Word, I am approaching it understanding that I am truly approaching You. That when I open the Bible, I am letting You speak to me. When I pray, God, I don't want to just make requests, however urgent the needs are. I want to spend time in prayer, opening my heart up to You, Lord. be glorified in my life, Father God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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