God’s Departure

God will never leave the follower of Jesus Christ, but His blessings, favor and power can. In fact, His favor can leave you even while you are totally unaware of your loss. This is scary. To think that I can go through life believing I was ok with God, when in reality I totally missed Him. This is a precarious position in which to live. It is lonely and dangerous to live outside of the favor of God, and sometimes it even leads to destruction.

Relationships, reputations, and finances can be obliterated, because we choose to go our way not God’s way. Don’t think you can ignore your spouse and children and think things are still ok with God. Exposure to online pornographic sites does not enhance God’s power in your life. Seething anger and unresolved resentment does not cultivate a spirit of understanding God’s wisdom and perspective; rather, it hinders your prayers. So, how can you know if you are living with God’s blessing, favor and power, or without it?

First, be honest with yourself. Are you running from God or toward God? Are you who He wants you to be, or are you masquerading, trying to be someone else? Is your anger out of bounds, and out of control or are you under the influence and forgiveness of the Holy Spirit? These are important questions for us to continually ask ourselves.

Secondly, it is important to be honest with others. We all have blind spots that stunt our spiritual growth. Look to others who truly love you, who can help you identify these sinful tendencies, and who will hold you accountable to not go there. Sin exposed to the light will dry up like a red worm on a hot July sidewalk, while sin concealed in the dark will flourish like rank mildew and mold in a cold and moist infected cellar.

We do better when others are watching. It is better to be humbled before a small group that knows us and loves us, than to be humiliated before the masses, which neither know us well, nor care as deeply. Lastly, remember your commitments to Christ and fulfill them by His grace. Do not stray from your basic disciplines of learning and applying God’s word and prayer. Wake up and don’t miss Him. His favor may have already left.

How do I best stay accountable to God and man? Am I experiencing the favor and blessing of the Lord? If not, what is hindering me?

Related Readings: Matthew 25:1-13; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Peter 3:7

Transformational Living:
What did I learn from the Lord in today’s Bible reading?

How will I respond?