God at Hand

“Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.” -Jeremiah 23:23–24 

Lord, help us see and sense your nearness and your bigness, your power and authority. Help us rest in your sovereign care.

This is God, through his prophet Jeremiah, calling false teachers to task for leading his people astray. Lest they think he is aloof or far off, he declares his closeness, his proximity. There is in fact nowhere to avoid him; we are always found out, seen by him and surrounded by his fullness.

For us in Christ, this is a game changer. We know this near, full God is for us, that he approves of us in Christ and he sings over us with gladness and a hop in his step. He is at hand. He is present. He is with you.

By the Spirit, he is actually dwelling not only among us but in us. Think about that. You are never out of his reach and never able to hide from him.

This is huge, because it means that today as you go through life, you are doing so near to God. Christ has brought you to God, and there you remain, come hell or high water. Cling to this truth. Live boldly because the declaration of the Lord is for your good.

The Welcome of Christ

“But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” -Acts 7:55

The story of Stephen is an encouraging one. A servant, someone picked to help care for widows, was so convinced of Christ that he could preach what is practically the longest sermon in the Book of Acts.

He knows the redemptive story; confronted by the crowd, he gives them the hope he has. It is a hope that the crowd will reject and stone Stephen in response. He is the first to die for his faith in the church age. Maybe death for your faith doesn't seem encouraging; but certainly the purity of his faith is, and the welcome that Jesus gives him.

Here is the King of the universe standing to welcome the faithful Stephen. Now this might not appear to be all that interesting; but culturally, it is confounding. Think of it this way — if you were going to visit the President of the United States, you would probably approach him or her with great deference. You would be the humble party. You would stand in their presence as a way to honor them. Now throw on layers of royal interaction in the first century, and could you imagine the Roman Emperor honoring a poor servant when they entered the room? I can't either.

For Stephen though, the One so much more powerful and wise than the emperor stands at the throne of God. Standing to honor and welcome Stephen home.

Within mere moments, the final stones will be thrown that will take Stephen's physical life; but this image of Christ welcoming carries him through. This is the welcome gives to all he has called to himself. As co-heir with you, he stands to welcome you into the presence of God.

Whatever you are facing today, you can know that this welcome of Christ is yours. It is not only something to be experienced later , when you die. This is to be experienced now; the welcoming Savior also cares for you as you walk through your days. Be encouraged by this welcome. Be emboldened to live the adventure that he has set before you.