“Who Does God Say I Am?” Part 4 – You Are Wrapped in God's Presence!
/Today’s Peace Quote
“Only through united efforts can our problems there be solved. … Ignorance of each other is what has made unity impossible in the past. Therefore we need enlightenment. We need more light about each other. Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience, and patience creates unity. Once we have more knowledge (light) about each other we will stop condemning each other and a united front will be brought about.” ~ Malcolm X, 1964
Any time I preach or lead a group, regardless of age, I start the same way. I’m going to say three short sentences. Please repeat each sentence, with enthusiasm.
God made me. God loves me. God has plans for me.
All of today’s verses talk about different ways that God is present in our lives starting before we are even born (Isaiah 46:3-4). God is so “present” that Jesus says God knows exactly “what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8).
It’s difficult to find a good metaphor or analogy for God’s presence. Humanity has struggled for millennia to describe an infinite God using our limited abilities to speak and create art.
But nevertheless, for all of those years, humanity has indeed yearned to connect with the Creator of the Universe, and as soon as we think that we’ve had even the slightest encounter with that Creator, we’ve tried to document it and explain it to others. There is something indescribably exciting, and a bit overwhelming, about the feeling we get when we’re able to sense how our presence and our Creator’s presence are connected. And that’s OK. We should not let unusual feelings scare us away from encountering our Creator’s presence.
Listen to how today’s verses describe God’s presence in our lives.
In Genesis 28:15 God tells Jacob, “I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. … I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” But what has God promised us today?
Fast-forward 1,000 or so years and Jesus tells us in Luke 12:22-23,31-32 that God wants to give us an active awareness of God’s presence and an ability to share that presence with others, a dynamic that Jesus calls the “Kingdom of God.” That tells me that God is never leaving our side.
And God is not just along for the ride. In Isaiah 48:17, God tells the people of Israel – and by extension, us today, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.” Leads you along…
Picture God as the world’s greatest travel agent and tour guide.
I can imagine God saying, “Don’t get distracted by the slick marketing campaigns, I’ll show you the best way for you to travel. And when you arrive, here’s where you’ll most enjoy staying, eating, and relaxing.”
Now, when inevitably, shiny objects distract us and get us off course, God is still there, not to condemn us but to say, “OK, here’s an updated plan for you.” Constant teaching, constant leading; that’s our constantly present God.
I love how in Isaiah 41:8-10 God describes Abraham as His friend. How cool is it to be able to call God your friend?!? Someone you can lean on, confide in, embrace, laugh, and cry with. Some critics say that we trivialize God when we use the casual term “friend.” But this is different. I’m “friends” with hundreds of people. I would take a bullet for two or three of them. We’re talking about that level of “friendship” which we see in Jesus’ sacrificial life.
And then God goes on to say, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.” Notice those connections.
We can release our fears because we know that God is with us.
We have no reason to be discouraged when we understand that God is our God – the Creator of the Universe is for us and not against us (Romans 8:31).
Exodus 16:4-5 speaks of how God provides for us, gives us what we need. I can’t help but think of the line in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:5-18), “Give us this day our daily bread.”
Most Christians know that prayer by heart, but very few of us – myself included – live every day nurturing that value and sense of appreciation. As modern Americans, we want signing bonuses, pension plans, and guaranteed interest on our long-term investments. We have the luxury of being a people who can be focused on growth and the future – a far cry from the people around Jesus who were grateful for God’s daily provision.
If that sounds too strange, too foreign, here’s an observation. Some of the most grateful and generous people I’ve ever known barely had two nickels to rub together. And some of the wealthiest and stingiest people I’ve ever known had more money stockpiled than they could ever spend.
What’s the difference? Simply put, their relationship with God. When you have the confidence of deeply believing that God is your “take a bullet for you” friend who will give you what you need (and more) and asks only that you share love, grace, and mercy with those around you… those people are operating on a whole different plane and measure wealth. By doing so, they offer all of us a model for how we can live with an attitude of gratitude knowing that God is our steady provider.
Here’s what I love about John 15:5-8, people only remember the tiniest sliver of these verses. Jesus tells His disciples, “Apart from me you can do nothing. … But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, [then] you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!”
Similar to God’s comments to Abraham, we have a cause-and-effect co-dependence here. IF our hearts and minds are aligned with Jesus (God in the flesh) then God will give us whatever we ask for. Why? Because if we are that closely aligned with God, our desires become a reflection of God’s desires.
The following two prayers are light-years apart:
God, show me the best stock to buy today. Versus…
God, show me the best way to share your love today.
Light-years apart.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:6 exactly what happens when we’re aligned with God: “God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.”
Luke 15:20-24 tells the story of the Lost Son, the Prodigal Son. I love that story for a dozen reasons, but they’ll all have to wait for another Sunday.
Your homework this week is to actively look for hints of God’s presence in your life. Maybe you end each day writing down what you’re grateful for. Maybe you read your Bible out loud or pray out loud. Maybe you sit still and silent for 10 or 15 minutes. Maybe you go for a nature walk. Maybe you try all of those to see what works for you this week. I urge you to do one or more of these exercises because the more we can sense God’s presence, the more we can give thanks for it and share it.
Amen? Amen!
Today’s readings all focus on our belief that we are wrapped in God’s presence.
NRSV = New Revised Standard Version
NLT = New Living Translation
We Are Not Alone Genesis 28:15 God speaking to Jacob in a dream
NRSV
“Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
NLT
“What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”
We Are Led Isaiah 48:17 God speaking to the people of Israel
NRSV
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go.
NLT
This is what the Lord says — your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.
We Are Called Isaiah 41:8-10 God speaking to the people of Israel
NRSV
But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
NLT
“But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham my friend, I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’ For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
We Are Fed Exodus 16:4-5
NRSV
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. …
NLT
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. …
We Are Able John 15:5-8 Jesus speaking
NRSV
I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. … If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
NLT
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. … But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
We Are Desired Luke 15:20-24 Jesus telling the Parable of the Lost Son
NRSV
[The disobedient son] set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said … “let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate.
NLT
[The disobedient son] returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.” But his father said … “We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.” So the party began.
We Are Carried Isaiah 46:3-4 God speaking to the people of Israel
NRSV
Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, even when you turn gray I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.
NLT
Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.
We Are Needy Matthew 6:8 Jesus talking
NRSV
… for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
NLT
… for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
We Are Filled Matthew 5:6 Jesus preaching the Sermon on the Mount
NRSV
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
NLT
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
We Are Provided For Matthew 6:31-33 Jesus talking
NRSV
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
NLT
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of [pagans], but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
END