May 11th, 2021
by Kevin Benton
by Kevin Benton
And he said unto Him, If Thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence (Exodus 33:15).
“If You’re not going, I’m not going!” Rings true, doesn’t it? “Where you go, I will go.” Sound familiar? It’s the mantra of men and women on a mission: the pursuit of His presence. “Lord, If You don’t go, don’t expect me to go. I’m staying with You. I’m only happy in Your presence.” Let this God chaser become a God catcher.
(Tommy Tenney)
“If You’re not going, I’m not going!” Rings true, doesn’t it? “Where you go, I will go.” Sound familiar? It’s the mantra of men and women on a mission: the pursuit of His presence. “Lord, If You don’t go, don’t expect me to go. I’m staying with You. I’m only happy in Your presence.” Let this God chaser become a God catcher.
(Tommy Tenney)
Reflection by Pastor Kevin
Reading this I am reminded of two passages in the Bible. The first is from the book of Ruth.
Ruth 1:16 But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.
Ruth was a Moabite who married an Israelite named Mahlon, who was the son of Elimelech & Noami. Due to a famine in the land, Elimelech and Naomi left Bethlehem and traveled to Moab. After some time Elimelech died and so did his two sons. Naomi decides because the famine in Bethlehem had passed she was going home. She urged her two daughter in laws that they should return to their families. Ruth was having no part of that she said she would go wherever Naomi went and would never leaver her side. By going with Naomi, Ruth meets and marries Boaz (the kinsman redeemer). Boaz and Ruth had a son named Obed. Obed had a son named Jesse. Jesse had a son named David. David would become King of Israel. Ruth's devotion to Naomi caused her to be right in the middle of God's plan for Israel. When we follow the Lord, Go where He goes, stay where He stays, leave when He leaves and make Him 100% our God, we too can be right in the middle of God's plan for our lives and the world around us. Go where he goes when He goes. I remember when I was a child I had this beautiful Tri-Colored German Shepherd named "Lady." I loved that dog! Lady wanted to be where I was all the time. Lady had her dog house and was usually tied up when i left for school, but sometimes she would get loose. When she was loose, Lady would always try to follow me as I walked to school. I really liked her following me but she was not allowed at school. She would follow me. I would tell her to go home, she would keep following me. The only way for me to have her stop following me was to turn around and walk her back home and tie her back up. Lady's desired to be with me & she would be near me whenever I was around. That is how we need to be with our God every chance we get we need to follow God, Go Where He goes. Unlike me telling my dog to go home, God will never tell you leave Him alone, or stop following Him. He desires us to follow Him. Keep following Him. Keep following Him!!!
The second Is In The book of Psalms. David wrote this Psalm after he was confronted by the Prophet Nathan after David had sinned with Bathsheba.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.
David new the presence of God. David knew the presence and importance of the Holy Spirit. The last thing David ever wanted was for God to remove Himself from David's life. David recognized how important his relationship with God was. We must live every day in pursuit of Him, pursuing with passion, dedication and persistence. When we fall short, immediately repent and be like David, stir up the smoldering coals of our relationship with God, fan the flames and resume following Him. I truly pray and hope that each one of us on this 70 day journey will continue steadfast and true, telling the Lord "Wherever you go I will Follow!!! (P.K.)
Ruth 1:16 But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.
Ruth was a Moabite who married an Israelite named Mahlon, who was the son of Elimelech & Noami. Due to a famine in the land, Elimelech and Naomi left Bethlehem and traveled to Moab. After some time Elimelech died and so did his two sons. Naomi decides because the famine in Bethlehem had passed she was going home. She urged her two daughter in laws that they should return to their families. Ruth was having no part of that she said she would go wherever Naomi went and would never leaver her side. By going with Naomi, Ruth meets and marries Boaz (the kinsman redeemer). Boaz and Ruth had a son named Obed. Obed had a son named Jesse. Jesse had a son named David. David would become King of Israel. Ruth's devotion to Naomi caused her to be right in the middle of God's plan for Israel. When we follow the Lord, Go where He goes, stay where He stays, leave when He leaves and make Him 100% our God, we too can be right in the middle of God's plan for our lives and the world around us. Go where he goes when He goes. I remember when I was a child I had this beautiful Tri-Colored German Shepherd named "Lady." I loved that dog! Lady wanted to be where I was all the time. Lady had her dog house and was usually tied up when i left for school, but sometimes she would get loose. When she was loose, Lady would always try to follow me as I walked to school. I really liked her following me but she was not allowed at school. She would follow me. I would tell her to go home, she would keep following me. The only way for me to have her stop following me was to turn around and walk her back home and tie her back up. Lady's desired to be with me & she would be near me whenever I was around. That is how we need to be with our God every chance we get we need to follow God, Go Where He goes. Unlike me telling my dog to go home, God will never tell you leave Him alone, or stop following Him. He desires us to follow Him. Keep following Him. Keep following Him!!!
The second Is In The book of Psalms. David wrote this Psalm after he was confronted by the Prophet Nathan after David had sinned with Bathsheba.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.
David new the presence of God. David knew the presence and importance of the Holy Spirit. The last thing David ever wanted was for God to remove Himself from David's life. David recognized how important his relationship with God was. We must live every day in pursuit of Him, pursuing with passion, dedication and persistence. When we fall short, immediately repent and be like David, stir up the smoldering coals of our relationship with God, fan the flames and resume following Him. I truly pray and hope that each one of us on this 70 day journey will continue steadfast and true, telling the Lord "Wherever you go I will Follow!!! (P.K.)
1 Comment
I love to read the book of Ruth. Ruth was so loyal to her mother in law and loved her very much that she walked away from her own family to be with Noami. This is where we as Christians must get that we are willing to walk away from any and very thing that stops us from loving God with all that is in us.We must let God change our DNA from our families genes to his DNA and become his family. When I stand and look in that mirror I want to see Jesus and not me so Lord change me to look like you. Change my DNA to your DNA let the world see you and not me.