On a practical level, however, so often we live our lives as if we don't believe. Craig Groeschel, of LifeChurch.tv uses the term Christian Atheist to describe someone who believes in God, but lives as though God doesn't exist. Many people live their lives that way. They live their lives as if they are all alone. Sure God is there, but He is distant and removed from their daily lives. He's not paying attention to their situation. Occasionally, He makes His rounds and checks in on them, but most of the time they are left to experience life by themselves.
If you live your life that way, no wonder you're stressed!
The Bible teaches us that God is with us, and His presence brings us the antithesis of stress...REST! God told Moses in Exodus 33:14: "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." When we find ourselves stressed, that stress serves as a warning sign that we have drifted from the presence of God. He is not over there; He is right here. And the promise is that His presence will give us rest!
Want a New Testament Scripture to remind us of His presence. Let's look at the first of our three passages from Romans 8. In Romans 8:35, we are asked, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or diSTRESS (emphasis mine), or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”. The next verse resounds with a loud "NO!"
Why? Verses 38-39, remind of God's presence: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Follow the logic: If nothing can separate us, then He is with us. If He is with us, what does He give us? Rest!
He is with us all time. He is here to stay. Nothing can change that. It's the principle of God's presence.
No comments:
Post a Comment