God’s presence
[Acts 7:30-35]
- When we are in distress, we must seek God's presence.
God descended amidst the burning bush on Mount Sinai, which was covered in thorns. Considering that the word "thorn" is mentioned twice, it implies that God is not indifferent to our suffering, but rather, He sees our distress and hears our cries. Therefore, He comes down to rescue us.
- Those who seek God's presence will hear His voice.
When Moses approached the burning bush in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, he heard the voice of the Lord. We should always seek God's presence, especially when we are in distress. Therefore, we should draw closer to the Lord and seek to hear His voice.
- In the sacred presence of God's refuge, we must repent of our sinful deeds.
The voice of God that Moses heard was, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground" (Exod. 3:5). God's sacred refuge always exposes our sins. Therefore, like Moses, we should humbly obey God's word in fear, and repent of our sinful deeds before the holy God.
- As we repent of our sins, we must embrace God's heart.
Just as God saw the suffering of the Israelites in Egypt and heard their cries, when we repent of our sins in the sacred presence of God's refuge, we too must see and hear what God sees and hears.
In this way, Moses, who experienced God's presence, embraced God's heart and eventually received the commission to go to Egypt, as God saw and cared for the Israelites with interest. Similarly, I also desire to receive a commission in the presence of God. I want to be sent with the heart of Jesus Christ. And I want to share the gospel and love of Jesus Christ.
Desiring to fulfill the will of the Lord who sent us with the heart of Jesus Christ,
James Kim
(Who seeks God's presence)