1 CORINTHIANS 4:1-5 – “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”

THEME OF THE DAY: LIVING IN THE CONSCIOUS AWARNESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE.    How would we feel if when we walked into our churches on the Lord’s Day and this was true; every single person we see knows everything we have said, everything we have done, everything we have viewed, everything we have thought, every place we have been, and everything else about our lives from our birth till the present day?  I don’t think I need to list our various responses so I will just give you one – mine.  I wouldn’t show up but thank the Lord this experience is impossible.  However . . .

Please read today’s scripture again.  There is One who does know everything about us, and I mean everything including the why behind everything we do, say, and think. The Apostle Paul tells us that when the Lord comes, He will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.

The simple truth he is conveying is we live in the Presence of God constantly.  Nothing escapes His view but we often see a disconnect.   Ask any Christian, “Is God omnipresent (always present everywhere, all the time)?” and “Is God omniscient (all knowing, all things, all the time)?”  No believer would deny these truths.  In fact, we would immediately proclaim, “Absolutely. God is present in all places, all the time, and He knows everything about everything and everyone, all the time.”

Here is the disconnect.  Sometimes what we profess to believe about God’s omnipresence and omniscience doesn’t make it into our minds, hearts, and shape our daily conduct.  For instance, when temptation suddenly comes upon us, regardless of the kind, what is our first inclination?  Do we entertain it?  Do we think of the pleasure of the sin and forget God?  Or do we respond like Joseph did when tempted by Potiphar’s wife –  So Potiphar left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.  And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:6-9).

Joseph lived aware of God’s Presence, and this kept him from sin.   Could he have gotten away with the sin of adultery? Yes, before man, but not God. And that is what will happen to us as well.  When we cultivate the awareness of living constantly in the Presence of God, we are spiritually diligent in guarding against sin.  This doesn’t mean “walking on eggshells”.  It means wanting to please the Lord in all things whether private or public.  We actually learn how to walk with Him when we feel Him and when we don’t and that is what is called living by faith in the constant awareness of God’s Presence.

PRAYER: Father, may I learn to live in the conscious awareness of Your Presence.

REFLECTION:  We don’t need to feel God’s Presence to live aware of God’s Presence.