Our Family Time with God

November 15, 2009

GOD IS GREAT

IN HIS PRESENCE

Scripture Reading--Psalm 95

Give special attention to V. 2

Though much has changed in the 21st century, children still love to play "hide and seek." It's fun to close our eyes, count to 50 while our friends go and hide, and look for them. That game is as old as time itself. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve played the first game of hide and seek when they tried to hide from God. Before they sinned, they enjoyed sweet fellowship with God. But after they sinned, their perfect innocence was gone. They feared God's presence and hid from Him, covering themselves with fig leaves. To their surprise, they discovered they couldn't escape from God's presence ( Gen. 3:1-13 ).

The Book of Jonah describes someone else who tried to flee from God's presence. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and to preach against their wickedness. "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord" ( Jonah 1:3a, emphasis added ). He boarded a ship to Tarshish, thinking he'd escaped God--only to discover he was wrong. God is great in His presence. No matter where we go, He's there. Have you ever tried to play hide and seek with God?

Psalm 139 offers tremendous verses about God's presence. David asks, "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?" ( v. 7, emphasis added ). He enumerates the many places people go in their attempt to avoid God ( vv. 7-12 ). His conclusion? It's impossible!

Practicing the presence of God is key to a successful Christian life. If we understand that God is with us everywhere we go, this truth should have a life-changing impact on our lives. Hagar, Sarah's handmaid, said in Genesis 16:13, "Thou God seest me." That's a powerful truth to remember.

DO THIS NOW: Read Psalm 139 and discuss the dangers of playing hide and seek with God.

--Jack Palmer--