Karen Ehman
“Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” Genesis 5:24 (NIV)
Do you have a favorite Bible character? One who inspires you, challenges you or one whose story you simply love? Perhaps it is Moses and his vast leadership skills. How about Esther, the compelling queen who, being both gorgeous and smart, used her quick thinking to help God save an entire nation? Maybe Joseph is your pick as you contemplate how someone so mistreated could continually take the high road; the road that lead him not only to political power but also to family forgiveness. All of these are marvelous choices, but none are my pick. I like Enoch.
Since first hearing of Enoch as a young teen, that guy has fascinated me. Not a lot is written about him in the pages of scripture, but what is there sure piques my interest. He “walked with God and then he was no more because God took him away.” Hmmm. My young mind pondered that strange description.
As I grew as a believer, I learned a bit more about this biblical mystery man. In Hebrews 11:5-6 we catch more of the story. “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (NIV)
Ah ha! Enoch was whisked away, spared the pain of death and transported immediately to God’s side all because of one simple thing. He pleased God. I say simple. But I don’t say easy. It is a simple thing to please God. You just do what He says in His word. Straightforward enough, right? However, my years as a follower of Christ have taught me that simple is not always easy. Choices present themselves. The world screams. Our flesh gets in the way. We want revenge or our own glory. We lack faith and instead try to control our own destinies. We mess up the “pleasin’ God” part with our very own hands.
Enoch “walked with God.” Oh, don’t we long for that to be said of us? I’ll admit I don’t always walk with God. I take a stand for God; believe the right things and make it known. I may walk after God. And sadly, sometimes I run ahead of God; make my own plans and then say, “Oh yeah. By the way God, do ya mind blessin’ these plans? I made them in Your name. I may have forgotten to consult You in the midst of them, but they are for You all right!” What a shame and a sham!
No two ways about it, walking with God means that we daily give up our right to navigate our own lives. We place our faith in Him, admitting He knows what is best for us and realizing He might not always reveal the hows and the whys until the very last second. Remember, God is seldom early, but never late. Only day-by-day faith-walking pleases God.
Oh, dear one, do you long to be one who pleases God this way? One who makes Him smile as He sees you daily place complete trust in Him and His infinite wisdom? Maybe then we just might be like my Bible hero Enoch; the one who walked so closely by our Creator’s side that one day, during one of those long walks, God looked at him and said, “You know, we’ve been walking together for so long now that we are actually closer to my house than yours. Why don’t you just come on home with me right now?” Glory!!!
Dear Lord, I am ready to learn to walk with You in faith; not ahead of You or behind You, but right by Your side. Show me how, step by step. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources
Do You Know Him?
For more thoughts on walking with God, visit Karen’s blog
What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lysa TerKeurst
Birds in My Mustard Tree by Susanne Scheppmann
Application Steps
Do I run ahead of God or do I walk with Him? What actions (or inactions) would have to go in order for me to walk daily with God?
What keeps me from placing total faith in God and His will for my life? Fear? Distrust? A longing to be in control?
Reflections
For more inspiration, do an Internet search to read of some heroes of the faith who learned to live by daily walking with God. Try George Mueller, Dwight L. Moody, Amy Carmichael or Jim Cymbala.
Power Verses
Psalm 84:11, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” (NIV)
II Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (ESV)
© 2008 by Karen Ehman. All rights reserved.
“Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” Genesis 5:24 (NIV)
Do you have a favorite Bible character? One who inspires you, challenges you or one whose story you simply love? Perhaps it is Moses and his vast leadership skills. How about Esther, the compelling queen who, being both gorgeous and smart, used her quick thinking to help God save an entire nation? Maybe Joseph is your pick as you contemplate how someone so mistreated could continually take the high road; the road that lead him not only to political power but also to family forgiveness. All of these are marvelous choices, but none are my pick. I like Enoch.
Since first hearing of Enoch as a young teen, that guy has fascinated me. Not a lot is written about him in the pages of scripture, but what is there sure piques my interest. He “walked with God and then he was no more because God took him away.” Hmmm. My young mind pondered that strange description.
As I grew as a believer, I learned a bit more about this biblical mystery man. In Hebrews 11:5-6 we catch more of the story. “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (NIV)
Ah ha! Enoch was whisked away, spared the pain of death and transported immediately to God’s side all because of one simple thing. He pleased God. I say simple. But I don’t say easy. It is a simple thing to please God. You just do what He says in His word. Straightforward enough, right? However, my years as a follower of Christ have taught me that simple is not always easy. Choices present themselves. The world screams. Our flesh gets in the way. We want revenge or our own glory. We lack faith and instead try to control our own destinies. We mess up the “pleasin’ God” part with our very own hands.
Enoch “walked with God.” Oh, don’t we long for that to be said of us? I’ll admit I don’t always walk with God. I take a stand for God; believe the right things and make it known. I may walk after God. And sadly, sometimes I run ahead of God; make my own plans and then say, “Oh yeah. By the way God, do ya mind blessin’ these plans? I made them in Your name. I may have forgotten to consult You in the midst of them, but they are for You all right!” What a shame and a sham!
No two ways about it, walking with God means that we daily give up our right to navigate our own lives. We place our faith in Him, admitting He knows what is best for us and realizing He might not always reveal the hows and the whys until the very last second. Remember, God is seldom early, but never late. Only day-by-day faith-walking pleases God.
Oh, dear one, do you long to be one who pleases God this way? One who makes Him smile as He sees you daily place complete trust in Him and His infinite wisdom? Maybe then we just might be like my Bible hero Enoch; the one who walked so closely by our Creator’s side that one day, during one of those long walks, God looked at him and said, “You know, we’ve been walking together for so long now that we are actually closer to my house than yours. Why don’t you just come on home with me right now?” Glory!!!
Dear Lord, I am ready to learn to walk with You in faith; not ahead of You or behind You, but right by Your side. Show me how, step by step. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources
Do You Know Him?
For more thoughts on walking with God, visit Karen’s blog
What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lysa TerKeurst
Birds in My Mustard Tree by Susanne Scheppmann
Application Steps
Do I run ahead of God or do I walk with Him? What actions (or inactions) would have to go in order for me to walk daily with God?
What keeps me from placing total faith in God and His will for my life? Fear? Distrust? A longing to be in control?
Reflections
For more inspiration, do an Internet search to read of some heroes of the faith who learned to live by daily walking with God. Try George Mueller, Dwight L. Moody, Amy Carmichael or Jim Cymbala.
Power Verses
Psalm 84:11, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” (NIV)
II Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (ESV)
© 2008 by Karen Ehman. All rights reserved.
Labels: Spiritual Growth, Time with God, Walking in Faith
9 Comments:
My favorite bible character is Eutychus, the man who fell out of the window while listening to one of Paul's long speeches. How many times does that characterize me.....I'm really trying (on my own power, of course) to be attentive and participate. I just lose steam, fall asleep, and completely and obviously fail/fall.
Thanks for the encouragement. I long to walk with God. It's there I know peace. Lately, I've been lagging behind. Too often I run ahead. Oh to keep the right balance...
I let life get in the way. I trip and stumble over the little things and run straight into the large things. I let my greed for sleep keep me from having a daily quite time in the mornings. It is no wonder my life is so far off the course of where I had hoped it to be by now. A part of me is affraid to let God get that close to me....I don't want to let go of the comfort of MY world...and if I do I don't want it to hurt. Change is never easy and isn't always without "Growing Pains"....to think I went through 19 hours of Labor and am to scared to let go of "my comfort zone" to let God do some Labor in my heart and life. Wow, when I put it in writting it sounds so selfish of me...I guess I am being selfish.
Dear Lord,
Please help me to let go of the fear, the selfishness, & the comfort of My Ways so that You can do some much needed heart and soul cleaning. Help me to let go of my Sleep idol and replace it with Your Daily Bread. Help me to keep the desire to have time with you daily and all year long. Help me learn from Your word and how to apply it in my life...personally, as a wife, and as a mother. Help me to pray for your will and not mine to be done in all things and help me to hear You when you speak. In Jesus's name, Amen.
Karen, this blessed me in such a very real way today. Thank you. To Anonymous: but look what happened to Eutychus! Paul flew down to pick him up, pronounced him "alive" and they went and ate (became nourished!) together! Do you have anyone around you to pick you up and help nourish you? :-)
Wow, Thank you this is just what I needed today.
Thanks for this devotion. It is indeed a daily walk.
This is my prayer today:
Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
This was an excellent, extremely well said "daily devotion." Thank you.
Thank you for the devotion.
I like Enoch too. Some years back we once discussed him in our bible study group. If only I could walk with God!!!
I also at times walk after God, behind God, ahead of God and at times I am even stationary (in confusion or indecision) !! Too often when I (want to) leave it with God my sinful nature takes over, puts seeds of doubts into me and I start questioning God's decisions and choices for me and my life!!
God please help me to walk with you!! Help me to hear and listen to what you are saying to me on our journey!!
im reading this blog a few days later than it was posted but God is ALWAYS on time. Contessa I can TOTALLY agree with how you feel and have the same problem that you do with that darn pillow demon he ust wont seem to let go of my head in the morning. However just remember this my sister and friend in christ What God has started in our lives HE WILL finish I am confident that if you and I make that extra effort to get up and pray in Jesus name before the day gets crazy that we will see the pilows get smaller and smaller till weare able to get up victoriously without the major struggle.
"Satan Only seeks to enslave you because he's intimidated by your potential"(prescila Shrirer)"He Speaks to me" also look up Galatians 5:1 as a handy reminder
May your Prayer and devotion life Grow Stronger and richer each day in Jesus Name
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