1.2.10 "Must Be Present to Win"

"Must Be Present to Win"

Genesis 3:1-4:26
Matthew 2:13-3:6
Psalm 2:1-12
Proverbs 1:7-9

Have you ever heard that line? It's usually tied to a gimmick of some kind or another. Maybe a door prize. In the context of today's readings, there's a much more sincere application.

Genesis 3 tells the story of the fall of man. We've heard it before, tree, serpent, Eve, Adam. Prior to sin, Adam & Eve were in perfect communion with God. There was no pretension. There was vulnerability. But something happened when sin entered the picture. Man hid. God called to Adam, "Why are you hiding?" And Adam replied, "I heard you coming and didn't want you to see me naked. So I hid."

Adam instantly knew that in the presence of God, his sin would be revealed. He didn't want to go there. Have you ever had the same thought? "I'm afraid that if I open up to more of God, I'm going to have to give up..." We know that the light of his presence will shine on areas we would like to keep in darkness. It's kind of foolish isn't it?

Adam's sin removed him from the place of experiencing God.

What is keeping us from that place?

In Matthew 3, John is in the wilderness preaching, "Turn from your sins... turn to God... for the kingdom of Heaven is coming soon." in verse 5-6 it says, "People from Jerusalem and from all over the Jordan Valley, and in fact, from every section of Judea went out to the wilderness to hear him preach, and when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River."

Notice the patterns, "Turn from sin... Turn to God..." The people from the area came to hear THEN confessed, and then were baptized. There is a process of being in position to experience God. There is an aspect of physical presence, but there is also the aspect of consecration - setting aside whatever would separate us from God.

I think the most haunting phrase in the Bible is "Adam, where are you?" It reveals so much about the heart of our God. It's MY sin that separates ME from God. If I can't "find" God, it's because I've strayed. I think the Lord comes to us each and every day and says, "Where are you?" Sometimes I think we cloud our minds with the sin of the world so much, we don't even hear him walking. Each and every day is an opportunity for us to say, "Here I am, cleanse me!"

We need to be people Empowered through Biblical Training. To do this, we must PLACE ourselves in a position to receive from God. Faithfulness in the Word in the morning. Consistent attendance to the corporate teaching of the Word in services as well as bible studies are vital to being in the place where God chooses to move. We need to be there physically. I hate seeing empty pews in church services. I hate seeing empty seats in Sunday School classes. I wonder to whom God is saying, "Where are you?" We MUST be present to win. While church attendance is not the ultimate measure of spiritual maturity, it is the fruit of a passion for God.

We also need to be there spiritually. We all know we can show up to church and look like everything is ok when it's not. We can "fake it" to others. In fact, I can write these DEVO's every morning for the rest of my life and still miss out on what God has for me. It must go deeper. I must prioritize the setting aside of the "noise" of life, whether it be sin, or just busyness and distraction. I must set it all aside and say as Samuel did, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

The Lord desires to abide in my home. As a family we want to prepare it to be a place where he is welcome, recognized, and where our hearts are ready to meet him. I must be ready to meet him. I must prepare myself. I must be present to "win".



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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