“My desire is to … be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23)
Yesterday’s devotional may have given you the impression that God is like a supervisor constantly watching you, commenting on everything you do wrong, but that’s not true. Living in God’s presence is not like standing trial. It’s like being in an intimate, loving relationship.
In John 17:21, Jesus prays to God the Father for the people who believe in Him, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in Me, and I in you, that they also may be in Us”. That’s amazing! Jesus asked that believers may be united with Him and with God the Father. He wants them to be “in Him”, like branches are in a tree. In another verse He says that He is “in” believers, in their hearts. Jesus desires to be in a very close relationship with His children.
In various places in the Bible, we also read about the deep longing of believers to be with Jesus. Paul says that “to be with Christ” forever is far better than his earthly life. David says that the one thing he seeks most, is to be in the house of the Lord and to gaze upon His beauty.
These men were convinced that being in God’s presence is the best thing. Do you agree?