The Presence Of God
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Exodus 40 and Psalm 78:1-39 (NIV)
(Woo Li Chun, Disciple Facilitator)
READ:
Exodus 40:38 “For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.”
OBSERVE:
Exodus 40 is a detailed account of the instructions from God on the construction and design of the Tabernacle – God’s intended dwelling place with man. It is a detailed blueprint, meticulously executed by Moses.
Thereafter “… the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34-35). The manifested presence of God was so clear and overwhelming that even without entering the temple, God’s presence was evident!
APPLY:
The question to ask today is where is the dwelling place of God? We, who call ourselves by His name and claim to be His disciples, will know that individually each of us is the temple of God and He resides in us!
As for design and execution, we are meticulously made by God! Indeed Psalm 139:14 proclaims “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made”! Man is one of God’s ultimate creation! “For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.” (Psalm 8:5). We are worthy vessels by His design!
The next important question then is “Is the presence of God in me clearly manifest and evident?” Not so much outwardly to others but pertaining to my own experience of God in me!
Firstly, am I a clean and holy vessel? Keeping short accounts with God, confessing Christ, and repenting of my sinful ways? Just like the Levis who kept the temple spick and span daily?
Secondly, do I go to God and offer Him my worship daily? Do I seek Him? As Moses no doubt did.
Thirdly, do I ‘do life’ with God? Do I look to God and seek His direction constantly? The Israelites constantly looked to where the cloud of God’s presence was leading them. God was also their provider during their 40 years wilderness trek! Do I depend on God for all my needs?
DO:
I will seek to be a worthy vessel not just by design but more importantly by my availability, devoted attention, and awareness of God’s leading and direction constantly.
An encouraging example for me is the life of Brother Lawrence, the author of “The Practice of the Presence of God”. In his collection of 15 short letters, he explained how to continually walk with God, not only from the head but also from the heart. For some forty years, Brother Lawrence lived and walked with God at his side. He said, “I make it my priority to persevere in His holy presence, wherein I maintain a simple attention and a fond regard for God, which I may call an actual presence of God. Or, to put it another way, it is a habitual, silent, and private conversation of the soul with God.”
Let me not be like the Israelites who didn’t do so and constantly complained whenever things got tough. “Therefore their days He consumed in futility, And their years in fear.” (Psalm 78:33)
PRAY:
Dear Lord, forgive me for getting distracted by so many things in life and all that’s around me. Teach me to be a worthy vessel, forgive my sins, cleanse my soul, to focus my heart and mind on You. Help me to be constantly seeking and aware of Your living and leading presence. To the end that Your presence is lived out in me. Jesus, who is ever present, in His precious Name. Amen.
