If Your Presence Does Not Go With Me (1)
Bible Passage: Exodus 34-36
“If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here”
~ Exodus 33:15
If Your Presence does not go with us
No One to watch over us
Who will protect us from our enemy?
Like a prowling lion
When we least expect it
Unwatchful, unvigilant
Overpowered, tempted
Overcome
If Your Presence does not go with us
Left to our own devices
Who will keep us in check?
Like proud beasts
Self-reliant, haughty and full of self-worth
Rather man’s admiring glances, than God’s nod and smile
Overbearing, stiff-necked
Overcome
If Your Presence does not go with us
No Holy Spirit in our hearts
Who will guide and counsel us?
Like spoilt children
Looking to do only that which we please
Undiscerning, immature
Over-stimulated, uncontrolled
Overcome
If Your Presence does not go with us
No words of life sweet in our mouths
How shall we take up Your commission for us?
Like lost empty souls
Knowing the source of Life, yet denying its power
Wandering in the dark, tripping up
Overworked, callous, jaded
Overcome
If Your Presence does not go with us
No prayers to start each day
How do we remember?
Like a man who looks at himself in the mirror
And forgets as soon as he walks away
Unmoved, ungrateful, joyless
Overlooking Your plentiful graces
Overcome
“…if now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”
~ Exodus 34:9
And God said: “Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you. Observe what I command you this day….”
~ Exodus 34:10-11
May God help us to keep His commandments. May His presence go with us each day.