Scripture Reading: Exodus 34:1-7, Exodus 34:29-35, Deuteronomy 4:7, Isaiah 41:10, John 1:14-18, John 14:15-17
God, out of His benevolent love, has made His presence available to people. Although this has looked differently in various times of salvation history, God’s desire to be near and for people to draw near to Him has remained consistent. His nearness is a never-fading part of the fullness of His character. He is present, personal, and relational. He is Immanuel, “God is with us” (Matthew 1:23).
We see this in Exodus 34, when God the Father met with Moses on Mount Sinai. Moses came down from the mountain and found he had to conceal his face with a veil in order to speak with the Israelites. He “did not realize that the skin of his face shone” after talking with God—that it was reflecting the radiance of God’s glory and frightening his fellow Israelites as a result of the intense presence of the Lord (Exodus 34:29).
God the Son, Jesus, came near in His incarnation. Fully human, Jesus walked, slept, ate, and drank. He lived among the people, and He also withdrew to spend time with God the Father alone. Before His death and resurrection, Jesus promised another Counselor—the Holy Spirit—who would bring God’s presence near to those who love Him (John 14:16).
In 2 Corinthians, Paul wrote that the sacrifice of Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit have changed the nature of our relationship with God. We can now gaze upon the glory of God with unveiled faces, just as if we were staring into a mirror (2Corinthians 3:18). While Moses was once the mediator between God and His people, we now have Christ, the “radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3) as our mediator. Because of Christ, we can enter into a relationship with God both corporately as His Church and as individuals. Even more, we have received the Holy Spirit to remain in God’s presence at all times.
Our relationship with God is rooted in His glory and expressed in His immanence, which means God is present with us—deeply invested and active in each of our lives. He is a personal God. He relates to us, loves us, and cherishes us. Rather than being distant, inaccessible, and detached, He has drawn near to us so that we might draw near to Him. By grace, He dwells among us, and by that same grace, He invites us into His presence.
Written by The She Reads Truth Team
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7 thoughts on "God Is Present"
“God’s desire to be near and for people to draw near to Him has remained consistent. His nearness is a never-fading part of the fullness of His character. He is present, personal, and relational.”
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Amen and amen.
Psalm 8:4
“What is a human being that you remember him, a son of man that you look after him?”
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Praying you all sense our ever-present God today.
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Amen❤️
Dear Lord be with me today and evert day
I feel.like I have had a light bulb moment!
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So, I was looking up the word immanence, as it was a tad too big a word for my now smaller, and older brain!
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Immanence.. The state of being present within something, or inherent within it..
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Got it!
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Understood!
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Light bulb moment, and please feel free to say this was a moment for you tooooooo..
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Imman-uel, what we know and understand as God with us, is derived from that word, or was it the other way around?
I mean, I always understood, the meaning of Immanuel, much like my name Christiana, means follower of Christ.. I got that there was a meaning to the names of old that we are given..I
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Am I thinking toooo deeply into this?
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However the word came about, I am so very thankful for Gods presence in my life, His constant care and grace, mercy and hope, and His wonderful love wrapped in His goodness that follows me, all the days of my life.
LORD GOD, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit, that keeps me in check, thank you, Father God, thank you for YOU, in my life.
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AMEN.
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Happy Monday dear hearts!
Much love, hugs and prayers for all.❤❤❤
Wow, thanks for the additional insight ❤️
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