Posted on 02/11/2016 12:25:57 PM PST by metmom
"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth" (Psalm 145:18).
Understanding God's omnipresence should encourage us in times of distress and keep us from sinning.
It is a great comfort as a Christian to know that God is always present in me both essentially and relationally. No matter what the trial, He is there. Sometimes He might seem faraway, but He's really no further away than He's ever been. His promise to us is, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you" (Heb. 13:5).
God is always with us to support our service to Him. When God called Moses to proclaim His message and lead Israel out of slavery, Moses protested because of his lack of speaking abilities (Ex. 4:10). But God said, "I . . . will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say" (v. 12). Jesus commands us, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19-20). If you doubt you have the power to witness, remember that you have the same resource as any evangelist-the presence and power of God!
God's continual presence is also a shield against sin. "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Cor. 10:13). Nothing will ever tempt us without His giving us the strength to resist.
The omnipresence of God should also motivate us to holiness. Most of us prefer to sin with no one else watching. But when we sin-whether in thought, word, or action-we sin in the presence of God. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good" (Prov. 15:3). "His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps. There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves" (Job 34:21-22). Don't do anything you wouldn't want God to see, because He'll see it anyway!
Suggestions for Prayer
Thank God for the comfort He brings to you through His continual presence.
For Further Study
Hebrews 13:5 is a quote from Deuteronomy 31:6. Read Deuteronomy 31:1-8. What was the basis for Moses' admonition to "be strong and courageous"?
Studying God’s Word ping
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