Hank and Rick worked on different floors of the same building. Every day, they would ride the same elevator; their interactions were nominal and consisted of minor chit-chat. They would comment about the weather or other small details about their work week. Sometimes mention was made about their personal life.

Later, the company transferred Rick to a different facility. Rick's absence was noted by Hank but otherwise made very little impact.

The reason for that lack of impact is quite simple: the two were acquaintances and not friends. Their time spent together was short and superficial as each went through the motions of their daily routine. There's nothing wrong with this sort of interaction, yet today's fictional example does serve to highlight a greater point about the Christian's relationship with God.

What sort of relationship do you have with God? Is yours a superficial, surface relationship much like Hank and Rick's? Or is it a deeper, more meaningful fellowship? One of the most neglected truths among Christendom is that God desires a relationship with mankind. He wants to fellowship with us and so God is always reaching out to us to secure our fellowship.

All too often, we respond by treating God as a five-minute elevator acquaintance. We go through the motions of reading our Bible and praying without putting any effort into them. We read Scripture and pray as part of a routine or a 'spiritual ritual' designed to establish our spirituality rather than to communicate with God.

Abraham was known as a friend of God. That is, his relationship and fellowship with, and investment in, God was so strong that God considered an attack on Abraham to be an attack upon Himself (Genesis 12:3). God could communicate with Abraham and reveal His will to such an extent that God was unable to hide His doings from Abraham (Genesis 18:16-18). Although Abraham had struggles and trials, Abraham always remained dedicated to God throughout. He set a strong example of what fellowship with God should be.

I urge you to learn from Abraham, move beyond a routine relationship with God, and become invested in Him.