The Presence of God

This month we celebrate the birth and life of Jesus - our Emmanuel! His very name reminds us that He came so that God could be with us - live in us and through us. He came so that we could enjoy His presence forever.

The greatest joy in all the earth is in the presence of God—this is the primary path we need to take in life

Ps. 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Ps. 21:6 For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.

Acts 2:28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’

Of all the wonders and delights in heaven and earth, there is no joy to be compared with the joy we can know in the presence of God. Imagine the utter joy that sports teams experience when they win an important game; or the pleasure at the birth of a child; the excitement one must feel at winning the lottery; the delight of seeing a sunset or hearing a wonderful piece of music—yet none of these can measure up to the utter joy of His presence! No other emotion or experience known to man can even come close to what God has planned for those who know His presence.

1Pet. 1:8 …Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory…

Such inexpressible joy is full of God’s glory! Our pursuit of the presence of God is also a pursuit of His glory. One path to the glory of God is through the magnificent joy of His presence.

Don't go to your churches tomorrow to GET the presence of God

go CARRYING the presence of God -

Don't go simply to GET a blessing -

go with a heart to BE a blessing.

The gods we worship
write their names on our faces,

be sure of that.

That which dominates
will determine man's life and character.

Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship,

for what we worship we are becoming.

Ralph Waldo-Emerson