In the Presence

Deuteronomy 14:23

You shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.

More directives from a loving God who wants to bless us – we need to eat (enjoy his bounty) in his presence – the place where HE chooses to establish his name.

Wherever God establishes us is where we need to be, not where we push and pull to make a name for ourselves.  He might establish us in a local church, serving on a hospitality committee, at a school serving as a hall monitor, or at home serving as a devoted mom. 

Then once we are established, we must remember that we bear (carry) his name, and that all we have is from Him, and all that we can give is to Him, so that we may learn what it is to serve in, and enjoy, his presence.

There’s something life-giving about being in the presence of the Lord, where he is, and it should be our lifelong pursuit to understand how to stay where he is, and respond to his presence.