Sabbath Challenge -- Day 145

Today's Scripture: John 7:1-24
[No Bible? Click the reference above to read online.]

Jesus, at home in Galilee, dealt with unbelieving brothers.

"Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing.

For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. ..."

John 7:3-4 ESV

He would not be moved by His brothers' goading. Jesus went to Judea, but in His own time, and privately. In Jerusalem, He made Himself known when He was ready.

God, too, makes His presence known and unknown. He reveals Himself as He wills.

There are times He feels very near.

And other times absent.

He has His purpose in both.

Unbelievers, as a whole, don't want to see God. They don't want to recognize His presence, because then they would have to deal with their sin.

Those who hated Jesus (denied Him as Messiah and wanted to kill Him) did so because their deeds were evil.

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, 

and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

John 3:19 ESV

Believers long to know His presence, be fueled by His Spirit, yet sometimes, He hides Himself in order to test and strengthen our faith.

Whether we recognize His presence or not rarely has anything to do with how He feels about us. He loves us and desires to be in relationship with all people.

He makes His presence known and unknown based on His purpose, which is always good.

The Lord is good to all,

and his mercy is over all that he has made.

Psalm 145:9 ESV

He's always present, but not always recognized.

Do you struggle when you don't recognize His presence in your life?

Take time today to remind yourself that He is near.
Read and ponder the words of Psalm 139:1-18.
Choose a line or two to memorize, to keep hold of, to sustain you when you feel He's absent.