Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “The Lord’s Presence”
Our Bible verse for today: “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “As a Christian you are never truly alone.”
The most important companionship we have as Christians is the companionship of the Lord. Through the presence of His Holy Spirit living in the hearts of His followers, Jesus is always with us. We are never truly alone.
This is what Paul wrote about in 2 Timothy 4:17 when he told of how everyone had deserted him and he was left to face his accusers alone. And yet, he was not alone – the Lord Jesus stood with him and gave him strength and courage. This is what Brother Lawrence wrote about hundreds of years ago in his little book “The Practice of the Presence of God.” Lawrence was as aware of the Lord’s presence when he was in the kitchen washing pots and pans, as when he was in the cathedral on his knees in prayer.
It’s true that the Lord is always with us and therefore we are never truly alone. However, in our devotional lives we must do the things necessary to cultivate an awareness of His presence. He is always with us, but because of inattention and spiritual dullness, we may not be aware of and sensitive to His presence. Regular practice of the spiritual disciplines helps us to become and stay spiritually sensitive and attuned.
As we approach the New Year do you have a plan in place for spiritual growth in 2015? Will you read the entire Bible, pray more, engage in regular times of prayer and fasting, be more faithful at church, or participate in new ministry activities? If you would like to brush-up on your knowledge and understanding of the basic disciplines of the Christian life I recommend Richard Foster’s classic book “The Celebration of Discipline”.
Jesus is always with us, but we are not always aware of His presence. And it’s mostly our own fault. He wants to be known by us and He longs for fellowship with us. For our part we have to pay attention to Him. I encourage you to set a goal and to have a plan for spiritual growth in 2015. If you join us at Oak Hill Baptist you will find in-depth sermons, challenging Bible studies, prayer meetings, support groups, rewarding ministry opportunities, great worship experiences, and good fellowship – all designed to help you grow in your awareness of and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Come and visit us.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 