Today’s Bible readings are Exodus 32:1-33:23, Matthew 26:69-27:14, Psalm 33:1-11, & Proverbs 8:33-36
Exodus 33:11
11 Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a
friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who
assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.
This reading today is one that really shows a picture for us
to look at. It is a picture that we must find ourselves in. There is one of two
places that Christians dwell when it comes to the presence of God. They are
either in His presence or standing at a distance looking to see what is
happening to those that are in His presence.
Earlier in this chapter we see that as Moses would go out to
the Tent of Meeting all the community would watch him. When the cloud began to
cover the Tent the people would stand. They would go through a bunch of
religious motions but NEVER actually enter into God’s presence.
This is so sad to me. They could have experienced so many
wonderful blessing had they chose to enter into His presence. So many of the
insecurities they struggled with from years of slavery would have been lifted
in one moment in His presence. Just imagine what would have changed in their
lives had they just taken that first step toward Him.
This is often the way many Christians are. They never really
come into the presence of their God to be changed. They spend a lot of time
standing at a distance going through a bunch of religious motion—hands raised,
singing, clapping, laughing, etc… but they fail to actually enter into the Holy
Place where they can be changed from the inside out.
I can only imagine the hurt that this people carried. I can
only imagine the shame that chained them down. I know there must have been
unworthiness that filled their hearts. They probably thought the same thing
that so many people think today, “Why would God want to have a relationship
with me?” They just stand back at a
distance afraid to come to the ONE who can change it all.
If they would have come into His presence they would have
found:
1. Peace for their restless hearts.
2. Joy for their aching hearts.
3. Strength for their feeble bodies.
4. Affirmation for their insecurities.
5. Hope for their hurts.
6. Forgiveness for their sins.
7. Approval instead of inadequacies.
8. Freedom instead of slavery.
9. Love to replace fear.
10. THE TRUE GOD instead of golden calves.
The same is true for us. If we are willing to come into His
presence there is no limit to what He can do. He can take a person with years
of hurt & failures & wash them away, making them new. He can also take
a religious heart & teach it what it is to be a child. He can give you rest
from your religious laboring.
I love the picture that is given of Joshua. He was so
comfortable in God’s presence that he didn’t want to leave. He wasn’t in a
hurry to get out of church. He wasn’t in a hurry for the music to stop playing
so the show could move on. He was most comfortable in God’s presence. It was
where he wanted to be. When he finally came into that wonderful place he wanted
to stay as long as possible.
Psalm 84:10
10 A single day in your
courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper
in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
It was during those quiet times that God began to form his
heart for the ministry that would come to be in his life years later when Moses
died. God started a work in Joshua during those quiet moments in His presence
that made him the man we later read about. God’s presence is meant to impact
your future. It is in His presence that He begins to download into you what is
needed to bring you to that next level.
How do you feel when it is time to go into His presence?
1. Are you uncomfortable?
2. Do you sit & stare at what others are doing?
3. Do you wait for the worship leader to tell you what to do next?
4. Do you look at your watch & wonder when it will end?
5. Do you stand at a distance & go through the formal motions but never really connect?
6. Do you cross your arms & refuse to be moved?
I hope that none of these things are routes that you take
when it is time to enter into the presence of Almighty God. It is the safest
place for us to ever be. Do yourself a favor & make an appointment right
now with your heavenly Father. Before the day gets away from you spend some
time in His presence. You won’t regret it.
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