THE LORD IS PRESENT
Present: To Give to, To announce someone's entrance into your presence
Present: Gift given
Presence: In the vicinity of, nearby, close at hand
Every offering made to The LORD GOD in the Old Testament was made with fire; a sacrifice had to be given with the offering. It is not enough to give The LORD words, actions must back these words up.
DO OUR GIFTS TO GOD HONOR HIM?
We say, Lord, Here I am, use me. But when He places us in the midst of trials and temptations, what do we do? Mostly complain. Lord, I didn't ask for this. Lord, get me out of this. How about saying something a little bit (a lotta bit) different? Lord, show me how to be a blessing to you in this trial. Give me Your Word to speak in this temptation. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may remain strong and steadfast, standing against the very thing that wants to take me out or knock me down.
The Word says not to promise God we will do something and then not do it. When that happens, we have lied to God and we will have to answer for it. Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4; Psalm 66:13.
GOD GIVES GOOD GIFTS
We give gifts to each other with the intent that the recipient would be pleased with the gift being given and receive it with grace. God gives us wonderful gifts. He gives us life and then promises life eternal if we choose His only begotten Son as our Lord and Savior, for that is the Gift God gives each one who believes. Christ is the Gift of Grace, the Gift of Lovingkindness, the Gift of Mercy promised to a thousand generations. Jesus is the Gift of Hope, the Gift of Wisdom. The Holy Spirit is the Gift of Understanding, the Gift of Revelation, the Gift of Guardianship.
God gives us beauty. He has created the universe: the stars, the moon, the sun, the planets, the galaxies, the Milky Way, the comets, the nebulae, for His pleasure. God has created the earth and everything in it because it makes Him happy. He is still creating: people are constantly finding new animals and plants; though they call them evolutionary developments, adaptations to a changing world.
God gives us Himself. He wrapped His Word in a fragile package of flesh and bone (John 1:14) and had His Holy Spirit place it in a young virgin, whom He found faithful to Him. (Luke 1:35). That's Love. His plan of Salvation would soon be fulfilled. The Gospel of repentance and faith would soon be among us. In fact, even now, The Lord is Present.
COME AND SEE
Are you aware of The Presence of God? Can you hear Him calling you to enter into His presence? Come, come and see The King of The Jews. Come, come and see the tomb is empty, for He has risen. Come, come and rejoice over the lost sheep that has been found. The Spirit and the Bride, they say, Come, come and hear. God is calling you to be near Him. That's a Wonderful Gift to be given to mere mankind. Our heavenly Father wants us to be near Him, with Him, forever and ever.
Come, come and see the Newborn King (Luke 2:8-20). Come, let us go up to the mountain of The LORD (Micah 4:2). Come, let us enter His courts with thanks giving and praise (Psalm 100:4 ). Come, let us sing for joy to The LORD (Psalm 95:6). Come and see Jesus (John 4:29; John 1:46; John 1:29-34).
So, I say now, this day: Come, come and see Jesus. Contemplate and consider The WORD of GOD. Believe that this JESUS the CHRIST, the MESSIAH, is indeed The Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world! Come, come and see for yourself, with the eyes of your heart, with the ears of your understanding. Come, come and see JESUS. And stay near to Him all the days of your life.
