I'm Not Leaving Without You!

SCRIPTURE: Exo. 33:15 Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 16 How will anyone know that you look favorably on me"on me and on your people"if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.” 17 The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.”

OBSERVATION: How are we as Christians any different than any other people in all of the earth? It is not our moral philosophy. A lot of people belive in "Christian Morals" simply by tradition or because it is what they were "taught" at a young age. What really makes us different is our relationship with Jesus Christ. Here Moses really hits the nail on the head; "your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth."

Some complain about Christians who are mystical. Yet, that is what we are suposed to be! Certainly there is a danger that we would elevate our experience above His revealed Word--we should never do that. Still, the greater danger is that we would not fully enter into the joyful and exciting life that comes from living with a sense of His presence.

What it requires of us, though, is a willingness to say with Moses, "I'm not going anywhere without you" and "show me your glorious presence". God is waiting for us to search for, to hunger for His presence; to refuse to move without Him with us.

APPLICATION/CONFESSION: I can get so busy doing for God that I forget the first priority of simply being with Him. I want to slow down and live in that pocket of His presence only moving when the cloud of His presence moves and never before or after.

PRAYER: Lord, like Moses, I want to know you. I want to live committed to moving with you and looking for, reveling in your glorious presence. Lord, show me your glory and change me by it!!