WHEN GOD TAKES THE LEAD, HIS PRESENCE GOES WITH US (PART 2 OF 2)

20th NOVEMBER 2020

“My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14)

This is a continuation from yesterday’s devotional. In yesterday’s devotional, we hinted on the need to let God give us the guidance that we require in the execution of our daily task, in order that the presence of God may abide with us, and go about with us wherever we go.

Letting God guide us and being in His presence comes with a lot of benefits. Some of the benefits of dwelling in God’s presence are as follows:

·        God automatically becomes our companion, and moves with us in all ways just like a bosom friend. God says, “My Presence will go with you” (Exodus. 33:14). Therefore, the God of the universe will always walk with us. He is our companion and our friend. It follows that the whole world may walk out on us, but God never will. That is God’s promise for us!

·        We will experience rest. God says, “. . . and I will give you rest” (Exodus. 33:14). This is the rest that comes to us here on earth while still alive. This is a calmness and security that comes through walking with God. Rest is a testimony of trust in God!

·        We shall be distinguishable. (Exodus 33:15 – 16) The accompanying presence of God calls us to stand out in the crowd, to be district, separate and unusual. God called us to be different.

·        We will experience the sign of his glory (Exodus 33:18). The Scripture says, “Then Moses said, ‘Please, let me see Your glory'” (Exodus. 33:18). What does that mean? The glory of God is the weighty importance and shining majesty that accompanies God’s presence. It was recounted how Michelangelo prayed, “Lord, make me see your glory in every place.” When God answered him, God did something awesome for him; The Heavens declares his prayers. Creation witnesses it. The church embodies it. Christians reflect it. Yes, the works of Michelangelo is all about the whole world! This is because the glory of God covers the whole world!

·        We will experience the sign of his goodness. And the Lord said, “‘I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you . . .” (Ex. 33:19). The word, goodness refers to the manifestation or essence of God’s glorious attributes, most often thought of as the works of his hands. The goodness of God is the concrete experience of what God has done and is doing in the lives of his people.

·        We will experience the sign of his grace. And the Lord said, “. . . ‘I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion'” (Exodus 33:19). The grace of God is his limitless favour, an expression of his heart. God’s heart is one of love and compassion.

When God is leading us, we see His glory, His goodness, and His grace afterwards, such like a flashback into our lives to see how God had led us and granted His grace, goodness and mercies. Oftentimes, we see how bad situation had turned good, and we say to ourselves, ‘it could only have been possible with God.’! Just like Moses, we cannot see the face of God when he is leading us and giving us the necessary guidance, but we can feel His presence, see His back – the works of His hands!

PRAYER

Father in the name of Jesus Christ, I thank you for Grace and the Faith to hear you today. Father, I pray that your presence goes with me today as always. By faith, I follow your footsteps today, leading me to the desired end according to your plan and purpose for me. Thank you, father. AMEN 

FURTHER READING: Exodus 33; Psalm 97:5; Thessalonians 1:9