Joshua 3:7
And the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses."
God's presence is extremely important in our faith, but we often trivialize this truth. After the Israelites left Egypt, they made a golden calf in the desert and started worshipping it. God called Moses to descend from Mount Sinai and brought down His judgment, then He said to Moses: "Go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you..." Moses, however, prayed to God: "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" In other word, what sets up apart from the world is not our prayer or devotion, observing the Lord's Day or tithing, not even us helping people or doing good deeds, but it's the presence of God.
People cannot feel the Lord's presence because the Lord is not manifesting His presence. Actually, God's presence can so mild that we'd never feel His presence, or so strong like what happened in Acts 5, where Ananias told a lie and was struck to death before God. The early church grew so fast not because of what we typically learned in the seminary - Small groups praying together, studying the Bible, or doing missions. It was because of what Acts 2:43 says: The secret for the growth of early church is because people feared God. When God's presence was manifested, people can feel that God is right there.
Have you experienced God's presence? The Lord is glad to manifest His presence in our life as long as we are focused on seeking Him. First, we must welcome work of the Holy Spirit, and learn to praise and worship God with our heart and soul. Many people cannot comprehend why God needs us to worship Him. Actually, God doesn't need to be worshipped, but we need to worship God in order for us to experience His presence. Of course God is worthy of our praise and worship! Also, we must contemplate about the Lord's heart; whenever we come before the Lord, we must think about what the Lord is thinking and what He wants to do. In other word, we must obey the Lord and let His be our top priority. Once we become sensitive to God's will, God's presence will readily manifest.
Lord, please help us to value your presence. In our daily life, let us praise you and obey you; not just value your blessings, but to value you alone. May the Lord's Spirit remind us not to let our hearts depart from your path! I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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