A lot of us will confess that we are serving the Lord, after all, everything we are doing is in His name. But if we don't stop and take account of where we are, it might be too late to find out at eternity that all along, we have been walking before Man and not before God. It is a thin line that can easily be missed, and it is imperative for us to cry out unto the Lord asking the Holy Spirit to show us where we have muddled it up. If not, we will just carry on as usual and end up like the 'many' that the Lord referred to in Matthew 7:22-23 ~
"MANY will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
And then I will declare to them, 'I NEVER KNEW YOU, depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!' "
Abraham was called by God to walk before Him in Genesis 17:1:
"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless."
Walking before God means it is His voice and His will that we bid, that regardless of what Man says or circumstances dictate, it is the Lord's will that stands. In the world we live today, being politically correct is more important than what the Holy Spirit is saying. And so in a subtle way, deception creeps in and takes a grip that cannot be shaken off unless we cry out to our Deliverer, Jehovah Elshaddai.
Abraham was living an exceptional life as a child of God. God trusted him enough to instruct him to leave where he was to a land that he did not know, (Gen. 12:1,4). His life must have been so pleasing to God for God to desire more from this Man of Faith. And so God called him to the next level of relationship with Him; God cut a covenant with him.
There is a covenant that we all have with the Father through Jesus Christ. (Heb. 9:15, 10:4-10, 15-18). But few have this Abrahamic type of covenant relationship with God. Many are called to this level of relationship but few are chosen. (I John 1:5-6)
There were conditions that God laid down for Abraham, (chapter 17):
1. Walk before God blameless. (vs 1)
2. He was given a new name by God. (vs 5)
3. Keep God's covenant; other conditions that came with the agreement of relationship (vs. 9 - 14)
Among the priests of Israel, there was a difference in level of ministrations. Some were called to minister just to the people, and some were called to minister to God and then the people. It was even the mercy of God that kept the 'people's ministers' in the sanctuary. (Ezekiel 44: 5 - 19)
The 'God's ministers' were not caught up with the idolatry and desecration that we can say happened then, but still happening in the Body of Christ today. The unfortunate thing is that the Church of today have blurred vision and have been deceived by the enemy that they are ministering or walking before God whilst still fulfilling the lust of the flesh. What Man says matters to us than what God is saying.
But God is calling out to people that will stand in the face of oppositions called compromise, religion or traditions of men; bid His will regardless of how hard or shameful it might be in the eyes of Man; speak boldly when politically seems wrong and most of all, live their lives and walk before Him blameless.
ARE YOU ONE?
