You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.' Acts 2:28 NIV
God has a promise to you of joy! Here again, however, there is a condition to this promise. You must be in His presence!
A young man called me recently wanting to share something he was reading in God's Word. As he shared, he said something was bothering him. It seems that as he has been seeking God, he has gotten so excited about the Lord, but no one around him seems to share in his excitement. "It's almost like they don't understand," he said. Dear friend, it's because they don't. They can't understand that kind of joy, because that is not currently their testimony.
What's the difference? My friend is regularly going into the presence of the Lord. Its there that he finds real joy!
How do you get in the presence of the Lord? Well, first you must have a way to get there. I don't mind telling you how if you aren't sure. You can only get into the presence of God through Jesus Christ. He is our access. (That's just another way of saying He is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life!) You have to start with a relationship. God wants it with you, but because of your sin, you must have a mediator between God and man. Jesus Christ is that bridge that allows a sinful man to enter into the presence of a Holy God.
Second, you must stay in His presence. Yes, I believe that if you are saved, then positionally you are with Christ, and God said Himself that He would not let His children go, but just because I'm married to my wife doesn't mean we are automatically close. If I schedule my entire week without including her anywhere in it, we are going to have a break in our fellowship. (and I'm going to be sleeping on the couch!) When you and I fall into sin we are not in the presence of God. God will not go where there is sin.
Third, we must abide in that presence. It is not enough to know the Lord and try to live a holy life, because we will still battle our flesh everyday. We must consistently, day by day, hour by hour, rest in Christ's love and grace. We must dwell in His presence, soaking up His glory and allowing Him to fill us and express Himself through us. It is that kind of life that will produce real joy.
Dear Lord, as we dwell in Your presence today, will You share with us Your joy. "The Joy of the Lord will be our strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)
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