This past Sunday I preached from a passage out of the story of Israel from Exodus 33. The portion of Scripture is a favorite story of mine found in the Bible. It is one of the many conversations between God and Moses. What draws me into the story is how Moses is captivated with the presence of God – so much so that Moses is going to call off his part in the story if God’s Presence does not go with them. Here we have Moses intimately talking with God, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” Exodus 33:15-16. For Moses, God’s Presence was a distinguishing characteristic for the people of Israel. And, as one who has been grafted in to this story through the victory of Jesus Christ the story has tremendous implications for me, and for any Christ follower. We are invited to live as a person of God’s Presence. The Israelites weren’t called out by Yahweh to simply become His namesake in the sense we might interpret. It’s the same for the Christian. We weren’t called out of darkness, set apart, and forgiven to simply indue a title [Christian] but rather inherit a relationship. You are created for life in His presence – an abiding relationship with God.
Author and Speaker Gary Smalley who created the 5 Love Languages gives us a greater depth to this area of relationship with God. Smalley says that Quality Time is one of the 5 Love Languages and is a crucial way people give and receive love. I’d discern that Quality Time is also an important dynamic of how we give and receive love from God. There are dimensions of relationship with God that are only to be found in the Quality Time arena. There are Holy whispers, nudges, directions, and strength that come when we quietly wait on the Lord. When we pull away from the busyness of life and seek God – as Moses did throughout the Exodus. We may be wired more to give and receive love through the other love languages such as: physical touch, gifts, serving or words of affirmation, but we must make priority for quality time for any healthy relationship – and especially with God. There is a knowing of God that only comes through an abiding relationship with Him.
An abiding relationship with God is a slow process. For all those seeking more of a knowledge of God the process is always worth it. On Sunday, I took a moment to expose three hurdles we may find to beginning an abiding relationship with God. They are: pace, perspective and patience. I share about them below.
PACE
Slowing down to be in God’s Presence isn’t easy when we live in a world that is obsessed with busyness. Our pace of life happens so quickly that we get caught up in a culture which has an attention deficit disorder. We have to move from problem to problem. Fix this. Fix that. Create this. Create that. Play this. Play that. Etc. It can be exhausting. All the while Jesus invites us “come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest.” Most days we pass by this invitation. We’d rather be weary if it means we get to stay connected to our social media accounts and news stations. All the while the living God longs to meet with us. Almighty God longs to speak to you.
The Gospel story was announced to a pace much different that our current one. People walked, rode donkeys, and took boats for travel. They didn’t have cell phones, televisions, radio’s, Spotify, text messages, email, snail mail…while all those create tremendous positives, they can also keep us wired. They can keep us online 24/7. People had moments throughout the day to pause, contemplate, and prayerfully consider their interactions.
Ever wonder why God speaks to you in the shower or the bathtub? Ever wonder why He speaks to you in the restroom? You’re not plugged in. It’s quiet. It’s still.
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
PERSPECTIVE
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy
Another hurdle I’ve encountered is that of perspective. Occasionally people have a skewed view of their relationship with God. They believe that Jesus was obligated to die on the cross and that He doesn’t want much to do with them. God is angry. Jesus appeased this anger. And, now God somehow endures our presence. He may love us out of necessity but He surely doesn’t like us – so the thinking goes. Instead, it would be wise to see that Jesus willingly laid down His life. It would be good to know that God’s love for you far outweighs your daily mistakes and missteps. He longs to walk with you daily. He cares to lead you to a place where His Kingdom is unraveling in the intricacies of your life. His mercy suddenly moves through you to others. But if you have the wrong perspective you could be tempted to think that God is enduring your presence – and it becomes an obligation instead of an invitation. He longs to be with you.
As the A.W. Tozer quote above states, our impression, thoughts, and perspective of God dramatically implicates our desire to be in His presence. If you hold a low view of God’s presence you’re not likely to want to spend time with Him. If you hold a low view of yourself, equally so, you’re not likely to want to spend time with Him for fear that He wants nothing to do with you. Yet, if you can instead see your Heavenly Father as Jesus reveals Him you’ll desire to spend time with Him. Jesus revealed God in such a way that we can know Him as love. Reread the Gospels. Catch the glimpse of God’s ridiculously generous love towards you. You are the apple of His eye. Chosen, set apart, and created from eternity.
PATIENCE
A critical hurdle one must overcome is patience. Cultivating an abiding relationship with the living God takes time. It takes discipline. It takes baby steps and missteps and plops and falls along with a resolve to meet with God. Patience with oneself is key. We are like baby’s learning to walk in the Kingdom of our Heavenly Father. Be patient with yourself. Stay determined. Stay consistent. Remain patient.
We have the gift of a lifetime on our hands to know God in greater measure. I believe the greatest gift you have for the world comes through your abiding relationship with God. My prayer for you is that of St. Paul from Ephesians 3:16-19, “16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Sincerely,
Paul Deary 