Presents or Presence?
In this season of giving gifts and celebrating Christ’s birth with family and friends, we look forward to time spent together. If given the chance, most parents would likely say they would prefer seeing their children on the holidays versus receiving a gift from them. The gift is thoughtful, but having our son home for a visit, or eating together with our daughter, sharing conversation with our children and enjoying one another’s company means so much more. The relationship takes precedence over the gift. A gift can be thoughtful, but it doesn’t embody the person. It doesn’t talk to us or give the warmth of affection, personality, or life. It’s a gesture, not a relationship.
Much like an absentee parent might ply their child with expensive gifts to try and make up for their absence, too often we try to do the same with God with our acts of service, our ‘checklist of righteousness’, our talents and offerings. Yet we sometimes withhold the very thing He wants most- our heart.
The child is not fooled, and neither is God.
God doesn’t crave substitutions. He doesn’t desire our sacrifices for Him in lieu of our being with Him. He wants our presence, not our presents. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. All the riches of Creation are His. He lacks nothing and there is nothing out of His reach, beyond His ability or budget. The one thing He wants is our hearts. And that, friends, is the one thing we can withhold from Him, if we choose not to surrender. Oh, our heart’s cry should be that our sons and daughters surrender to the Lord with their whole heart- no compromise, no negotiation, no cheap substitutions, but an authentic relationship with God Most High.
God longs for us to abide in Him, to spend time in prayer, to commune with Him, rest in His Presence and find shelter, peace, and assurance in Him. When we opt to ‘do’ and ‘give’ and think that God should be impressed and delighted, we miss the point. Our gifts do not take the place of the relationship with Him. Nor do they make up for our shortcomings, failures, willful defiance, or conscious sin. God wants our being more than our doing. Doing without being found in Him is empty and really, it’s false religion.
King Saul did that very thing. He opted to do as He wished and give gifts to God to make up for His rebellion. But God saw through his ruse. God didn’t accept the gifts. And Saul’s willful defiance and attempt at ‘doing’ sacrifice versus ‘being’ obedient brought his downfall and his death.
1 Samuel 15:22-23 “Samuel said, “Does the LORD have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice, And to pay attention is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as reprehensible as false religion and idolatry. Since you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.”
What do we want most from our children this Christmas? We want them to follow Jesus- willingly and passionately. We don’t want them going through the motions, acting the part. We don’t want dramatic sacrifices that make big impressions on others. We don’t want lavish displays of talent ‘all for the glory’. We long to see authentic faith being lived out every day. We want to see our sons and daughters crave time with Jesus. We want to see fruit that gives evidence of a heart surrendered to Him. We want to see them living in the Presence of the Almighty God and Savior and, in turn, living a life that is a gift to Him, all day every day. Fully surrendered and loving Him intentionally and authentically. A present is short-lived. It often doesn’t fit, or we already have it. Soon after the holidays it may find itself on a pile to donate or put in a drawer or closet, to be forgotten until another time. But Presence doesn’t wear out. Presence brings a warmth and memory that endure. Presence is investment in the life of another by way of time spent, words spoken, arms extended and hearts knit together. This season, let’s pray that our sons and daughters practice presence with God, intentionally, authentically, and regularly- not just for this season, but for every day of their life.
“Holy Father, You make it clear your expectations of us. Yet too often we try and negotiate the terms. We try to do things our way, substitute gifts for obedience, acts of service for submission, and sacrifice in lieu of surrender to You. Lord, I know you see (name)’s heart. You see through the facade that we all put up and You see to the heart- the true condition of what lies there, our loyalties and our cravings, our willful sins and those that are hidden. Lord, I pray that You would speak clearly to (name) today. Holy Spirit, call them into fellowship with You. Open their eyes to recognize the emptiness of things and actions without Jesus. Help them crave time with You. Let their ‘being’ in Christ motivate their ‘doing’ that gives evidence of fruit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. A selfish heart can’t produce those, only a heart that is truly surrendered to You. Lord, have your way with (name). May they give You their whole heart, every day, without reservation, so that You, in turn, can give them abundant life. Lord, I pray that You would give me the gift of seeing (name) follow after You authentically and intentionally from this point onward. Lord, do a work in (name)’s heart and life. May You be pleased with them and may it be for Your honor and glory, in Jesus’ name, amen.
On a personal note…
Thank you for following along in 2024. It’s been a joy to have you all read and pray- I know God is working in our sons and daughters, and He’s working in our hearts, too!
I will be taking a brief break to spend time with my own sons and daughters for the next couple of weeks. But don’t worry, Join the PAC Prayer will be back in 2025 with more devotionals and prayers….and a NEW BOOK releasing on Amazon soon!! - Stay tuned for updates on the new title: 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal.
“For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” Romans 11:36
I pray you have a blessed celebration of Christ’s birth and a wonderful new year. Look ahead and be excited about what God is doing! He is moving and working and I’m confident He will show us great things in the year to come!
Pray without ceasing!