LifeLink Devotions for Wednesday, October 30, 2024

 As we progress through our study of faith, I am convinced that in general we do not understand that everything in life is to be about God’s glory. But Moses makes a statement in Exodus chapter thirty-three that strongly identifies the need to reach that level of mature faith. Moses says in verses fifteen and sixteen.  “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?”

Moses admits to God that life is meaningless and has no purpose unless God’s Presence is visible to everyone. Unless other people can see the reality of God through His Presence in their lives, Moses says that they might as well not proceed with life. The Presence of God is the one thing that distinguished the followers of God from all other people on the earth.

WOW! What a deep well into which we should sink our buckets.  I trust that the Holy Spirit motivates you to spend some time pulling up more living water. Let me start the process by focusing on this aspect of Moses’ statements: the single identifying mark of a Christian is to be the visible Presence of God in their life, and the single identifying mark of a church that is truly following God is to be the Presence of God in its people.

We have allowed the influence of the world to change our methods of identification. We have moved from being identified by His Presence to wanting to be identified by the fulfilled promises. We have looked hard for those promises that personally benefit us, and if we can see them fulfilled in us then we can be identified as followers of God. Prosperity resulting in big bank accounts and lots of expensive toys shows the Presence of God in our lives, doesn’t it? Big buildings show the Presence of God in a church, don’t they? Why is it necessary to place a humanly tangible product on the Presence of God to prove that God is present? Aren’t the unsaved equally or more wealthy than the saved? Aren’t the buildings of the cults and unrepentant churches bigger and better than those of the saved? Why do we insist on competing for recognition at the world’s level?

So how is the Presence of God seen in people and in the church? It is not through the physical manifestations of God’s power, although that may accompany His presence. It is through the spiritual manifestations of God’s character in the lives of His followers. It is through people who live with merciful and compassionate hearts. When Moses asked God to reveal His Presence to him in Exodus 33:18, God responded this way in verse 19 – And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”  When God did this, and Moses saw His glory, Moses heard these words from God as He passed by – “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” 

There are the identifying marks of the Presence of God in our lives and our churches – compassion, grace, patience, love, faithfulness, and forgiveness. And when you draw living water from the well of God’s Presence, your life will be identified by those same traits. 

Pastor John