PART ONE: The Why

THE FIRST STEP

Have you ever had friends or loved ones who came to you only when they wanted something? They were probably nice enough when you would see them, but the only time they asked about how you were feeling or expressed any interest in you was when they needed your assistance.

How deep have your relationships with them been able to grow? Why do you think this is?

SEEKING HIS PATH

There is a big difference between the relationships you have with those who demonstrate unconditional love and those who only show you that they care when you do what they require. The former truly love you for who you are; the latter have only a self-centered interest in you.

This is also true of your relationship with God. If you only seek Him when you need something, your relationship with Him will be one-sided and hindered in its growth. Moses understood this—that is why he was committed to spending time with God. He wanted his relationship with the Lord to be growing, vibrant, and complete. He also wanted to know God and fully understand His ways so he could imitate them.

Is this a desire of your heart? In Exodus 33:11 we read, “The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.” Moses did not merely go to God for direction, information, or relief from his troubles. He entered into the Lord’s presence in order to know Him. Moses quickly learned that to achieve this, he needed to spend time alone with God—listening to Him, fellowshipping with Him, and meditating on His truth.

Love grows when we take time to be with the Savior. It also develops when we step aside from the pressures of the day and enter into fellowship with others who know and love Him. There is risk involved with intimacy. But whenever you are tempted to hold back, remember God gave all He had so that He could know you and demonstrate His unconditional love toward you.

How do we know Moses wanted to know the Lord? We have a record of his words. He said, “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. … If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here” (Exodus 33:13, 15). Moses wanted to experience His presence and favor even more than he wanted to enter the Promised Land!

He had a deep hunger for God and understood that an intimate relationship with Him would always be more fulfilling and satisfying than anything else the world could offer. So if the Lord wasn’t part of the things he wanted—if they weren’t God’s best for his life—they were not worth having.

DEEPER IN INTIMACY; FURTHER IN OBEDIENCE

So consider this: Why are you interested in getting in step with God at this point in your life? Is it because there is something you desire to receive from Him or information you are hoping He will reveal to you? It may be because you feel lonely and are not sure if others will accept you. God created us for fellowship—first with Himself and then with others. If we are going to learn how to be intimate and godly in our fellowship with another believer, we must begin by trusting God and opening our hearts to Him.

After all, He knows all about us, and He is waiting for us to come to Him—which is exactly what Moses did. He drew near to the Lord. But your desires and trials are not the only reason to go to God. Rather, they are the tools He is using to draw you into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. You can begin by asking Him to reveal Himself to you. If you are in need of encouragement, don’t be afraid to admit this. If you need wisdom about a challenge or are having a hard time forgiving yourself or someone else, pray and He will provide the insight you need. The very fact that He is geared for deep relationships is all we need to motivate us to draw even closer to Him. You can trust Him with your life—more than you can trust yourself.

YOUR WALK OF FAITH

In your prayer time, ask God to reveal the true motives of your heart. Are you angry, jealous, fearful, doubtful, resentful, frustrated, or fighting a bitter attitude? Feelings of lust and infidelity can cause a deep sense of guilt to develop. These can block and prevent us from knowing and experiencing God’s love. They also keep us from loving others. You can’t love someone fully if you are holding a grudge or clinging to resentment. Your love for God cannot develop past the point of infancy.

Moses wanted to walk in fellowship with Him. He wanted to know the Lord and to be known by Him. This meant laying down all that he had been carrying. He couldn’t gather new information as long as he continued to cleave to what he had known or experienced in the past.

He had to make a clean, fresh break in order to know God fully. He had to be willing to let down the emotional walls and barriers that could potentially block the love of God. Are you willing to do the same? Do you want to know how to walk in step with Him and know Him intimately? If so, ask Him to stir up your desire for Him and to reveal anything that is standing in the way of you knowing Him better.

When you open your heart to Him, the blessings will come. Not only will He reveal Himself to you, but He also will use you as a blessing to others. God developed Moses’ character for two reasons: worship and service. And He has the same plan in mind for your life.