"This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In those days ten men from different nations and languages of the world will clutch at the sleeve of one Jew. And they will say, ‘Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’" (Zechariah 8:23 NLT)
When we tabernacle with God rightly, the world takes note. We wind up leading others toward relationship with the living God. Our commitment to witness results to God in withness for others. People can see the presence of God in our lives and they are attracted to Him.
It happened often to the Israelites. After the plagues, in their midnight flight from Egypt, it was quite clear that God was with His people. Some of the Egyptians spontaneously packed up and joined them on their way out of the country.
"Many other people went with them..." (Exodus 12:38 NLT)
People’s destinies changed that night because of the Israelites commitment to walk in the presence of God. People will take note our our commitment to tabernacle, too. The presence of God in our lives has an impact on the world around us.
Four decades after the Exodus, Rahab opened her heart and her home to the Israelite spies. She had heard of the Lord’s presence with His people and instinctively knew she was about to fall on the wrong side of history. The fame and glory of God had preceded the Israelites arrival outside of Jericho. At first opportunity, she honored the God she didn’t understand. She served the spies as they infiltrated the city and begged to be included in their number.
"Now swear to me by the LORD that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families from death." (Joshua 2:12-13 NLT)
Rahab’s faith and kindness were rewarded. She and her family were rescued from the coming destruction and absorbed into the family God. Rehab was even included in the lineage of the Savior! Our commitment to tabernacle with God changes eternities!
Israel attracted outsiders so regularly that their sacred Temple included a Court of Gentiles – a place where the non-Jews could worship. The presence of God with His people tugged an unbelieving world toward Him.
It seems that Jesus preferred to preach from the Gentile Court; perhaps because the people (men, women, children, slaves and foreigners) had equal access to His truth in that court. He stood as the presence of God brightly burning for all to see.
After the resurrection, at Pentecost, He put that presence in us: in believers. He set lives on fire with the power of the Holy Spirit: making the presence of God widely available within our very personhood. When we learn to tabernacle – to live and move in attention to His presence – we become the city on a hill that Jesus preached about. Others are drawn to the light they see in us. This is not an attraction to our personalities or gifting, but to the God who reigns within. The windows our our soul begin to shine brightly as we learn to live in deference to His presence.
"You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14 NLT)
Lord, we want to live for You. We’d love for our ives to be invitational to Your presence so the world can see and know You. We realize we cannot do this apart from You. Rather than focus on words and deeds, we turn our attention to You. Help us find You as we seek You will our hearts. May our fames become places where Your Spirit is welcome and expected. Reside in us in a way that transforms our lives. Let us live deeply devoted to Your companionship. May our commitment to our time with You impact our neighbors and affect the nations. We get to dwell with God and that alters everything. Amen.