Responding to God's Presence

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe."
-Proverbs 18:10 (NRSV)

Last night at the Gathering we talked about the significance of a name. We don't really think much about names today, but the concept of a name in the Old Testament was particularly significant. What is amazing is that God has revealed his name to us. God takes the initiative to make himself known, and so he revealed his name to Moses.

What is more, God revealed his name in the person of Jesus. Jesus was the embodiment of the significance of the name of God, and so it is that;

...God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. -Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)

It is this God who we have direct access to because of what Jesus did. It is not about how hard we try, or how much we work to try to muster up righteousness on our own. It is all about the blood of Jesus that makes us clean when we follow him so that we might stand in the presence of God.

Last night was about responding to God's presence. The Bible says that God is enthroned on the praises of his people (Psalm 22:3). So we exist to be a community of believers that embodies the resurrection power of Jesus Christ by responding to God's presence. Last night was an awesome time of worship. I hope you take time this week to just be in the presence of God. Whether you sit in silence and reflection, take time in prayer, sing, paint, draw, dance, or whatever, do it in response to the presence of God. And we can respond to God's presence because God revealed his name to us in the person of Jesus Christ, drawing close to us so that we might be close to him.

God bless you all,
See you next week at the Gathering...in the presence of God!

-Tim