A Glimpse of Jesus
As we have journeyed through the layers of the Tabernacle, there has been a lot of personal reflection of what stepping into the presence of God looks like. There are several steps that help lead us into God’s presence, and we see these steps reflected all throughout The Word. When the Tabernacle was laid out, there was only 1 man who could enter the Holy of Holies, which was where God’s manifest presence dwelled. That man was the high priest, and even he could only enter once a year. Today, all believers have the opportunity to walk through the heavenly steps laid out for us in the Tabernacle and dwell in God’s presence. What a gift!
Although this freedom to enter into God’s presence is such a gift, it’s easy for things that are free to us to feel common or ordinary. There used to be so much that was sacrificed for one man to enter into the presence of God annually, and now we have access to that same presence daily. This has pushed me to ask the question: what would I be willing to do in order to get into God’s presence? If it wasn’t easy, would I commit myself to doing whatever required to be with God?
READ: Luke 2:36-38 NLT
The Prophet Anna has 3 simple verses written about her, and yet there is so much we can learn from her life. After she became a widow at a very young age, Anna decided to dedicate her life to serving in the Temple. She had so much life ahead of her. She could have remarried, had children, and culturally achieved something, but instead she never left the Temple. She did this for decades when finally Mary and Joseph walked in with baby Jesus, an infant who would become the Savior of the World and yet could do nothing for Anna in that moment. He could not heal her, teach her, or defend her. The reward for her whole life’s work was to simply get a glimpse of Jesus, and it was everything to her.
Would I be willing to give up everything to spend my whole life sitting in the presence of God to simply get a glimpse of His face? Would that reward be enough for me?
The honest answer is, no. Our culture would even say that Anna wasted her life away by spending it in the Temple. It’s way more attractive to achieve things for God than to sit in The Secret Place with Him. Why does the presence of Jesus feel so common that I don’t believe it’s enough to satisfy everything I’m looking for in this life?
How do we begin to place a priority on walking in the presence of God every day? How do we fall in love with His presence?
"The most holy and important practice in the spiritual life is the presence of God - that is, every moment to take great pleasure that God is with you" ~ Brother Lawrence
JOURNAL: Take some time today to reflect and journal on where you have prioritized other things over God’s presence. Ask God to help you fall in love with Him again today.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for the gift of Your presence. I do not take for granted the gift it is to be able to dwell with You always and to not be separated from You. Thank You for Your son Jesus who made it possible to experience Your presence. Show me the places in my life where I have treated You and Your presence as common. I repent of the hard places in my heart where I do not believe that You are enough for me and everything that I need. Teach me how to value the gift of Your presence. Teach me how to walk with You every step of every day. Thank You for your kindness and patience with me. I love You. Amen.
Although this freedom to enter into God’s presence is such a gift, it’s easy for things that are free to us to feel common or ordinary. There used to be so much that was sacrificed for one man to enter into the presence of God annually, and now we have access to that same presence daily. This has pushed me to ask the question: what would I be willing to do in order to get into God’s presence? If it wasn’t easy, would I commit myself to doing whatever required to be with God?
READ: Luke 2:36-38 NLT
The Prophet Anna has 3 simple verses written about her, and yet there is so much we can learn from her life. After she became a widow at a very young age, Anna decided to dedicate her life to serving in the Temple. She had so much life ahead of her. She could have remarried, had children, and culturally achieved something, but instead she never left the Temple. She did this for decades when finally Mary and Joseph walked in with baby Jesus, an infant who would become the Savior of the World and yet could do nothing for Anna in that moment. He could not heal her, teach her, or defend her. The reward for her whole life’s work was to simply get a glimpse of Jesus, and it was everything to her.
Would I be willing to give up everything to spend my whole life sitting in the presence of God to simply get a glimpse of His face? Would that reward be enough for me?
The honest answer is, no. Our culture would even say that Anna wasted her life away by spending it in the Temple. It’s way more attractive to achieve things for God than to sit in The Secret Place with Him. Why does the presence of Jesus feel so common that I don’t believe it’s enough to satisfy everything I’m looking for in this life?
How do we begin to place a priority on walking in the presence of God every day? How do we fall in love with His presence?
"The most holy and important practice in the spiritual life is the presence of God - that is, every moment to take great pleasure that God is with you" ~ Brother Lawrence
JOURNAL: Take some time today to reflect and journal on where you have prioritized other things over God’s presence. Ask God to help you fall in love with Him again today.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for the gift of Your presence. I do not take for granted the gift it is to be able to dwell with You always and to not be separated from You. Thank You for Your son Jesus who made it possible to experience Your presence. Show me the places in my life where I have treated You and Your presence as common. I repent of the hard places in my heart where I do not believe that You are enough for me and everything that I need. Teach me how to value the gift of Your presence. Teach me how to walk with You every step of every day. Thank You for your kindness and patience with me. I love You. Amen.
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