Walking With God

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now llive in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galations 2:20 NKJV

There has been a popular belief in christianity for some time now that as christians we need to actively seek our Lords presence.  This belief has led many believers to go to great lengths to grab just a piece of closeness with God.  From tithing just a bit more to pouring through scriptures searching for answers, many a christian has hoped for that closer walk with God.  Well, what if I were to tell you that Jesus was closer to you than you ever thought?  Not only that, it is not your tithes or other labors that will ultimately lead you to this realization.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2: 8-10 NKJV

That presence of the Lord which you seek is not that far away.  Let no one tell you that you need to work to find this.  For the appostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 2 that it is not through our effort alone that God has saved us, but by his grace.  Through our faith we believe this to be true.  It is also through faith that we believe that there is no seperation between God and His creation.  This has never been the case.  For even after the fall, our Lords presence was with His creation.  God has not pushed us aside, and He certainly has not burdened us with requirements simply to experience His closeness.  No, for we need not do anything to prove our worthiness to God.  Our creator, who sees the heart, knows what it is we desire.  If it is our desire to be close to Him, He is there.   It is in Galations 2:20 where the apostle Paul provides us with the evidence of Jesus being within us.  For as Paul states, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me."  Was Paul seeking his Lords presence?  Perhaps, but he also realized that he didn't need to look very far to find it.  For Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:20 that He is with us always.  I've never known Jesus to lie, so I have faith that He  has made good on His promise.  However, so many christians still labor with the goal in mind of coming closer to Jesus.  To those who would take this approach, I present to you Galations 2:20.  For Paul is not laboring to find his Lord in him, he has already realized this as fact.  His faith has brought him to this point.  It is not for us to labor to seek our Lords presence, for He is already there waiting for us to welcome Him.

~Scott~