Every time I see God's Word speaking of the presence or countenance of God my spiritual antennae go up. In our reading in Psalm 89 today we see God's people rejoicing, delighting and being exalted in God's righteousness and in HIS presence! We see that the people are happy or blessed that hear the Mercy and truth that go before the face of God.
Psalm 89:11-16 The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness, You have founded them. 12 The north and the south, You have created them; Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name. 13 You have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand. 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. 15 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. 16 In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in Your righteousness they are exalted.
If you remember Exodus 33, Moses cried out to see God's glory and he pleaded with the LORD not to send them into the Promised Land without God going with them. Moses would not be satisfied with the gifts of God, he longed for the presence of God!
Ex 33:12-18 Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people...'I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ 13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” 14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.” 17 So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” 18 And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”
Moses is one spiritual stud! He makes bold request after bold request of the sovereign God of the universe and God gives Moses his desires. I am convinced that my vision is so often much too small! When we enter the throne room in the confidence of the righteousness of Jesus Christ and make our requests of the sovereign God of the universe they are typically much too small. Remember Eph 3:20, Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us
Do you remember what Paul wrote in 2 Co 4:6-7? "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." What is the treasure? The treasure is Christ in us the hope of glory! The treasure is God, God is the gospel! The good news is that through the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ our relationship to God the Father is restored. We see this in Psalm 73:28 "But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works.
Paul closes 1 Cor. with a powerful statement, he says in 1 Cor 16:22 "If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha." It may not sound confrontational but think about it this way. How many people went forward in a church service to received Jesus because they wanted to avoid hell? How many went forward because their friends went forward? How many went forward because Mom and Dad encouraged and coached them to? How many have walked the isle that have no true love for Jesus? If you went forward to get fire insurance from hell are you really saved?
When Diane and I first met she consumed my every waking thought and many of my sleeping thoughts too:) Is is possible to be saved, to say that you have a relationship with Jesus and never think about HIM?
Is there anything or anyone that you think about more, that you love more than Jesus? Be honest with yourself! If the answer is yes, then you are either not saved, not born again or you are out of fellowship with HIM!
That is strong medicine Mark, how can you say that? Let's let Jesus put it in stronger terms...Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
Seeking HIM above all things together!
love,
m