The Gift Is Not Enough Without the Giver

“For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.” EXODUS 33:16

 
PONDER THIS

Many today say, “I have salvation. I have eternal security. But I’m not walking in joy. I’m not walking in victory. God is not real to me.” When a pastor asks how many of you know if you were to die today, you’d go to Heaven, you may lift your hand. But if you were honest, you might say, “Pastor, God is not real in my life. I do not have the manifest presence of God in my life. I have His protection, I have His provision, I have His promise, but I do not have His presence in my life.”

Don’t think just because you have provision and protection, you’re right with God. I’ll remind you that even a non-believer has certain provisions: food, air, clothes, and houses. We can be so preoccupied with provision and protection that we fail to seek His presence.

It is an evil thing to seek gifts without the Giver, to seek blessings without the Blesser, to seek the promise without the Provider. We need the presence of God.

When was a time you experienced the presence of God? What do you remember about it?
Do you recognize God’s presence in your life today? How might you seek Him?

PRACTICE THIS

Sit in God’s presence. Ask Him to fill you with His presence every day.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Do You Mindlessly Receive Things?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.” Romans 7:4

 

PONDER THIS

Remember when the children of Israel came out of Egypt and they were going into Canaan? They were coming out of the land of bondage into the land of blessing. God told Joshua in Joshua 1:3, “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.” Notice, God did not say. “I give it to you,” but “I have given you.” God was telling Joshua, “Every place that you put your foot down is already yours.” Now, it was theirs, but they had to possess their possessions. God didn’t say, “If you put your foot on it, I will give it to you.”

In the same way, many followers of Jesus have already been given so much that they have not yet possessed. There is God's provision but there must be our appropriation. It doesn't matter what God has done for us, if we don't appropriate it, it won’t be ours.

What are some things God has given you that you receive automatically?

What are some things God has given you that you have to take hold of? How does this apply to salvation for all people?

PRACTICE THIS

Who do you know who has not taken hold of the salvation offered in Jesus? Take time this week to have a conversation with that person.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers