DCLM Sincere Milk 8 February 2023 — God’s presence
DCLM Sincere Milk 8 February 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — God’s presence
TOPIC: GOD’S PRESENCE
TEXT: EXODUS 33:1-8
2And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:
3Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.
4And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.
5For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.
6And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.
7And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.
8And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.
KEY VERSE: “Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee: for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way” Exodus 33:3).
MESSAGE:
The Children of Israel were led through difficult ways on their journey to the Promised Land. They overcame their various enemies and problems through the counsel and the power of God Almighty. All they needed were also supplied. God’s presence with them was indeed the greatest treasure they had.
In our text today however, the Lord sent Moses to tell them that He would no longer go with them in their journey. This was indeed very sorrowful news for them. God created us to live in His presence. By this we receive His fullness of peace, protection, guidance and direction for life, victory over satanic powers and plans, righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
God gave the reason why He could not go with the people of Israel anymore. It was because of their stubbornness. How is your personal friendship with God? Have you been living in sin and disobedience to His word? Do you seem to feel that He is far away from you because of your sin?
To make personal and lively fellowship with God possible again, Jesus came to save from sin (Matthew 1:21). Settle this with God and put your faith in Christ. If you have been saved from sin, but sometimes don’t feel God near you, it may be because of unbelief. Put your trust in God and His promises, rather than your feelings.
PRAYER: Please Lord, help me not to do things that may keep You away from me.
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 59:1-4
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
