Lynda by the river: Weekend Words

From Beside the Still Waters...

The Presence of God - Read Isaiah 43

"Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." - Matthew 28:20

While camping in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, I became acquainted with two friendly young hunters who were trying to fill their elk tag. They seemed quite puzzled that I was not hunting, but simply hiking off-trail through the forest to enjoy God's beautiful creation. Why would someone walk around in the mountains, at risk of getting lost or meeting a bear or a cougar, and not even carrying a firearm?

"But what do you do?" That was a difficult question to answer, for my only goal was to relax and revel in God's presence without any distractions. Jesus said, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while" (Mark 6:31),

It is just as beneficial for His disciples to do this today as it was two thousand years ago. However, awareness of God's presence should never be confined to times of isolation in some remote region. Nor should it be solely at Sunday services, prayer meetings, or home devotionals. Thanksgiving, praise, worship, and communion with our Lord should be continual in our daily life. Awareness of His presence should be foremost in our thoughts regardless of circumstances. "Know ye not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). If this is so, all our daily decisions will be guided by a desire to do His will and to honor His name.

Years ago it was common among professing Christians to ask, what would Jesus do? Seldom heard anymore, this question is still relevant to all who sincerely desire to maintain a constant awareness of God's presence. Will you join me in making a commitment to that?

Pete Lewis - Halsey, OR

"Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence." - Psalm 140:13

From Be Still and Know...

"And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him" (Colossians 3:17).

God Has given us a guiding principle for our lives - doing everything as His representative. "And whatsoever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, and come with Him into the presence of God the Father to give Him your thanks" (Colossians 3:17, LB). This covers every area of our daily living; in our homes, our business world, our neighborhoods, wherever we are, whatever we do. "And whatever you say or do, let it all be done with reference to the Lord Jesus" (Williams). Don't leave Him out of anything.

When we do all in His name, representing Him, our desire will be to please Him. "Make it our ambition, whether in our home or away, to please Him" (2 Corinthians 5:9, Weymouth). Is this your ambition?

We will do everything for His glory. "Whether wherefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). Everything in our lives, regardless of how small, ordinary, or insignificant, should be for His glory. Is this your desire?

All we do will be with the right motive. It has been said, "His name is our standard of perfection. When all is done in His name, there is never a mis-taken step, a mis-spoken word, or an act rescinded." Do you make periodic checks to see if your motives are right?

Sometimes we feel if we were taken out of our present environment, it would be easier. But the standard is, "WHATSOEVER ye DO (and that includes WHEREVER YOU ARE) through His strength and power you can do ALL in His name."

Does this seem an impossible attainment? It is. We can't do it in our own strength, but God enables and empowers us for it through the Holy Spirit.

"For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey Him, and then helping you do what He wants" (Philippians 2:13, LB).