I believe when someone comes face to face with God, when someone comes
near the presence of God, things begin to change. Life begins to change in huge ways. By acknowledging our God we come to see His
grace and experience His peace. Have you
been there? There are places I’ve been
where I have experienced this. I love
those places.
But keep on
listening. The presence of God and His
peace is not about a place. It is about
a relationship with God. Just like going
to church doesn’t make you a Christian or even a better person. Having a personal connection to God is where
we find our safe place, saving place, strength, peace, and so much more. And because that is not a place we find God
with us all the time and enjoy His presence.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the
only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Peter said to Jesus,
“Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for
Elijah.”
Even Peter mistook the
place for being a point on the map rather than a relationship with God. Make sure you have that one right on, and it
is time to return.
Often times we have to let
go of the lies that hold us back or keep us from holding on to the truth and
promises of God. Peter thought a place
where God’s presence shows up was a good answer. But it is the relationship we have with God
that makes all the difference in the world.
We can enjoy the presence
and peace of God anywhere. Another lie
humans often hold to comes from judging or measuring ourselves against someone
else. Some people are better than us
while others are far worse.
But that is not how God
measures us. His judging is based on sin
and His son. Either our sin is dealt
with or it is not. Either we stand on
our own or allow Jesus to stand in for us.
Romans 3:20 NASB
because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
The law reminds us we have
things in our lives that have to be dealt with.
Our struggles often come because we do not trust God.
For as in Adam all die, so
also in Christ all will be made alive.
We stand as Adam did or as
Christ does. The truth that we must hold
is that Christ took my place, paid for my sin, gives me light and allows me to
live free from the penalty of sin by the grace of God’s forgiveness.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 NASB
Do we live in the light or
in darkness? Do we hold truth or
lies? It is much like when our kids act
wrong ways and we ask them where they learned that behavior or those words they
use. Sometimes they learn them from us,
their parents, or others around them.
We hold truth when we live
in the light God gave us. We live by
lies when we stay in the dark. God made
us sons of day or His kids by giving us life in His son
Even so consider
yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
There’s the truth. Sin is dealt with. Grace is given. We are alive because of what Christ Jesus did
for us.
Let go of the lies. Live in the truth. We are new in Christ!
Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB
For by grace you have been
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not
as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
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