The Present's Without the Presence

I recall being greatly impacted years ago by a pastoral appeal to seek Gods face and not His hands--to prize who He is and not just what He can do. The Bible account of the prodigal son interestingly illustrates this thought.

Luke 15:11 NLT Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, 'I want my share of your estate now...' 13 "A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living."

The prodigal just wanted the goods, the stuff, the inheritance! In short, he wanted the presents without the presence! 'I want what you have, but not who you are!' He was a prodigal from the presence.

Ps.37:4 says, Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. My motivation toward Him is not that all my desires and wishes be fulfilled--like the proverbial kid in the candy store. If the delight of my heart is Him, then isn't true fulfillment found only in His presence? It's a guarantee: If I seek Him as my delight, He will be found!

As I've so often related, If I diligently seek Him because He is the rewarder of those who do, am I truly diligently seeking Him? If I seek first the kingdom because all these things shall be added unto me, am I really seeking first the kingdom? Gods kingdom guarantee: if I seek and focus on the presence, He will then add the "presents," (the reward)! Selah.\o/