Why Does God Want to be Present With Us?

I’ve been thinking this week about one of God’s promises to us - his promise to be always near.  It’s an amazing promise, really, this idea that no matter where we are or what we are doing, he is always with us, always present…with all of us at the same time! 

You might remember one of the songs we sang last week - it mentions his presence four times!

You are holy, you are whole.

You are always ever more

than we ever understand.

You are always at hand.

Blessed are you coming near.

Blessed are you coming here

to your church in wine and bread,

Raised from soil, raised from dead.

 

You are holy, you are wholeness; 

you are present.

Let the cosmos praise you, Lord!

Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, our Lord.

What is God doing when he is present with us, I wonder?  Why does he want to be present with us?  How does this promise make you feel?  Have you ever wanted to be with someone all of the time?  If so, why?

Our scripture reading for this week (Romans 8. 22-28 MSG) also mentions God’s presence:

All around us we observe a pregnant creation.  The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us.  But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter.  He does our  praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God.  That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

I hope to see you on Sunday (at 10AM in the Dogwood Room) for worship on Sunday - in the presence of our Lord.