His Presence...

"If your presence does not go,.....Don't make us go up from here." Exodus 33:15

I have longed for His presence lately, more than usual. I realized that this truly is my hearts desire, that I be in His presence. For a long time I wanted to just be good on the outside....you know having right words, the right modest attire, well behaved kids.....having a godly appearance. Don't misunderstand me, I wanted the ways of the Lord.In doing all those things, I thought, I must be pleasing the Father which meant I belonged to Him. First let me say, If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you belong to Him ; therefore being declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God (Romans 5:1). 

You see in the passage of scripture above, Moses realized that there was nothing of greater value than to have the presence of God with him. Being able to talk with God and know Him. He would rather stay in the wilderness  and have the presence of God, than to go to a land of continual riches and the best of all things good. God told Moses in Exodus 33 that He would send an angel with him and that He would fulfill his promise to the children of Israel only He was not going up with a stiff-necked people.

And Moses essentially said, 
No, please don't tell me to go without you, Lord! 

How often do we just go through the motions of a christian life doing good things, accomplishing much but not seeking His presence?Maybe we say a quick prayer and read a verse here or there; but never have enough time to actually enter in.What if we make it to church on time every Sunday and leave, not being moved with compassion? What if  our prayers slowly become more and more about making our lives a little bit easier and better; leaving out the widowed, the orphaned, and the sick?

"How will it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight unless You go with us?" Exodus 33:16

I am learning that even in my vain attempt to walk this thing out right; I missed a vital part of the journey.
That is to know HIM.
 And not just to know Him, having only a head knowledge, but to know Him presence to presence.To begin to take on the very heart of God. Realizing that He has called us all to enter behind the veil.