2 minute read.
Daily Reading: 1 Kings 15:25-17:24 ESV, Acts 10:24-48 ESV, Psalm 134:1-3 ESV, Proverbs 17:9-11 ESV
Daily Verse: “So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” (Acts 10:33 ESV)
PAREIMI (3918): “To be near, i.e. at hand. To be by, at hand or present, of persons, of things, of a particular season in the Lord’s life on earth.”[i]
At hand.
Picking up where we left off yesterday, Peter, now in Cornelius’ home, shares the gospel for the first time with Gentiles, non-Jews. Cornelius explains how an angel told him to send for Peter. Gathered in the presence of God, Peter speaks.
As followers of Christ, God’s presence never leaves us. Our feelings don’t determine God’s attendance in our lives. Don’t let your emotions trick you into believing a lie. Often, God works in silence as we move through our days. Seeds planted in darkness grow into the light. Just because we can’t see the growth doesn’t negate it.
Draw near.
Trusting God’s presence in our lives allows us to draw near Him. When events unfold in our day, we can look for God’s hand—running late to work because of an unexpected occurrence or maybe God’s way of protecting you from an accident. Or perhaps not getting the promotion allows you to spend more time with your family, time you’ll never get back.
When my nephew died, I thanked God for my time with him on earth. I’m glad I didn’t get the promotion to District Manager of the Midwest, requiring me to move 1000 miles away. Disappointed at the time, now I’m grateful I stayed and spent those years with my nephew. God knew what I didn’t.
God never leaves nor forsakes us. Feelings don’t equal facts. Trust God’s presence with you, even when you don’t feel it.
[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 192) Thomas Nelson
