Do we really want God's grace, presence, blessings and love?    
   

Come near to God and He will come near to you.

James 4:8

 Our Pursuit of His Presence 

   This is the week we celebrate: The curtain hiding the Most Holy Place, the veil hiding God's Presence, was torn open. The time had come for true worshipers to worship the Father in spirit and truth. 

   Jesus had already turned the page: You have heard that it was said ... but I tell you...

   Later, converted Paul wrote: All meat is clean. Every day is holy. Every (moral) act is acceptable. The Spirit interprets. The Son intercedes. 

   The world was no friendlier to believers than it had been to the Son himself. They sought refuge in organized, state-approved religion. Along with relative security came an unnecessary return to distinctions: special days, seasons, times, places, persons and sacraments. 

   In the "priesthood of believers," one man's deed may differ from another's. Paul wrote letters now considered Scripture, while supporting himself by making tents. 

   Winning a soul is far better than planting a garden, but both are good. Gifts differ, but all are accepted. Motives matter. 

   All this we do in a world ruled by Satan (the prince of this world; John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11). 

   With his presence, we are different than the world (Exodus 33). Without his presence...we have no song of hope and joy to sing.  

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,

who was, and is, and is to come.

Rev. 4:8