Are You Keeping Your Distance?
Absence Can Create Voids, But Presence Fills It!
The people stood afar off, but Moses drew near…where God was (Exodus 20:21)
When we take a look at this moment in Scriptures, we can clearly see that Moses knew what God’s presence physically felt like, what His voice sounded like, and what His radiant glory looked like (Exodus 33:12-23, 34:29-35 NKJV).
Unfortunately, the people of Israel did not want to hear from God directly and apparently, they were quite happy to leave it that way. They said to Moses, You tell us what God says…but don’t let God speak directly to us (Exodus 20:19).
Scared of What You May Hear?
So, we have to ask the question; “What were they afraid of?” Were they afraid that God might tell them something they didn’t want to hear? Well, hello!
Let’s look at it this way: when you haven’t tried or can’t even be bothered about carrying out God’s last set of instructions, it’s pretty difficult to get excited and fully onboard about His next set. John writes, But those who obey God’s word truly…love Him. That is how we know we are living in Him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did (1 John 2:5-6 NLT).
Relationships Take Commitment
So, are you content to be an onlooker, watching God move in the lives of family, friends, even other work colleagues? Are you willing to do this instead of accepting the discipline required to have a personal relationship with Jesus yourself? Do you want His gifts and His favor in ever-increasing measure, but not the commitment that goes with them? God doesn’t want you to be busy just running around and being infatuated with doing ministry stuff for Him. Neither does He want you doing unending church work or busying yourself with other situations that encroach on you and keep you from intimacy with Him.
A Date or a Bride?
Do you know what He really wants? He wants you to take time with Him. I need to say it like this—He’s not looking for a date; He’s looking for a Bride!
The Christian life has always been about having a personal relationship with God. But a relationship can only be built on two-way communications. It’s like a marriage; it requires commitment. When you follow God, life no longer consists only of that which can be seen, felt, or figured out. It includes walking by faith, trusting Him, learning to know His voice and the leading of His Spirit.
We Need to Learn How God Speaks
Some of us are reluctant to fully commit our time, energy and resources to our relationship with God because we’ve seen people who claim to be doing just that and their approach scares us. So, when we sense the Spirit’s leading, we doubt what we sensed Him saying. As we then analyze it, it’s easy to conclude what we sensed wasn’t logical. Then ultimately, we ignore and dismiss what we’ve heard.
Some of us want to obey the Spirit, but we’re not sure we know when He’s really speaking to us. We wonder, Is this God’s voice or my own? We’ve all experienced this; it’s a normal part of the Christian life.
Sometimes it’s OK to Get it Wrong
This is why Paul writes, Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25 NIV). Spiritual guidance stems from an intimate relationship. Even the most mature believer can stumble and get it wrong at times. But that’s not the problem. Why? It’s because The Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand (Psalms 37:23-24 NIV).
Just Say Yes!
What He really wants is for someone who’ll stick with Him when the going gets tough and be there when He asks them to. Are you ready to be led by the Spirit? Are you ready to put on that ring of commitment and walk out your daily life with a God who wants to live a daily life with you? Say yes; He’s waiting.