Holston Daily Devotional December 7, 2020

Focus Scripture

Psalm 27:1-14 CEB

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation. Should I fear anyone? The LORD is a fortress protecting my life. Should I be frightened of anything? 2 When evildoers come at me trying to eat me up— it's they, my foes and my enemies, who stumble and fall! 3 If an army camps against me, my heart won't be afraid. If war comes up against me, I will continue to trust in this: 4 I have asked one thing from the LORD— it's all I seek: to live in the LORD's house all the days of my life, seeing the LORD's beauty and constantly adoring his temple. 5 Because he will shelter me in his own dwelling during troubling times; he will hide me in a secret place in his own tent; he will set me up high, safe on a rock. 6 Now my head is higher than the enemies surrounding me, and I will offer sacrifices in God's tent— sacrifices with shouts of joy! I will sing and praise the LORD. 7 LORD, listen to my voice when I cry out— have mercy on me and answer me! 8 Come, my heart says, seek God's face. LORD, I do seek your face! 9 Please don't hide it from me! Don't push your servant aside angrily— you have been my help! God who saves me, don't neglect me! Don't leave me all alone! 10 Even if my father and mother left me all alone, the LORD would take me in. 11 LORD, teach me your way; because of my opponents, lead me on a good path. 12 Don't give me over to the desires of my enemies, because false witnesses and violent accusers have taken their stand against me. 13 But I have sure faith that I will experience the LORD's goodness in the land of the living! 14 Hope in the LORD! Be strong! Let your heart take courage! Hope in the LORD!

Devotion

Since March of this year, when the Covid-19 virus shut down much of our country, we have been hard-pressed as people of the Church to reframe our understanding and experience of worship. Before then, the gold-standard for worship had always been “in-person.” We had just never called it that. It was just “worship.” Online worship was a vital part of the conversation for many congregations, but the essential was just “worship,” and worship happened at the church. The global Covid pandemic changed all of that. With the pandemic came the need to distinguish between “in-person” worship and “online” or “virtual” worship.

The distinction between online and in-person worship was and is important to make because it reminds us that we can be the church -- the body of Christ -- in spirit even when our bodies cannot be together face-to-face. Still ... there is something special about gathering together, in-person, to worship God, face-to-face. And while the pandemic has made both options essential, the gold standard for most of us is still in-person worship, where we can see each other face-to-face.

Our need for face-to-face connection comes, in part, from how we were made. We learn in Genesis that we were made for connection. We were made to be together. We were not made to live in isolation -- from each other or from God.

The exchange between Moses and God in Exodus 33:20 exemplifies this need. The people had broken God’s heart by making and worshiping the Golden Calf. Moses was beside himself with fury, but still tried to negotiate God’s forgiveness for them. Moses eventually secured God’s forgiveness, but it was not easy. God wanted nothing to do with them anymore. God needed some space.

But Moses was persistent. With every consequence the people suffered, Moses met with God and interceded for them, “face-to-face, like two people talking to each other.” (Exodus 33:11) However, even though Moses connected with God face-to-face, he never saw God face-to-face. Whenever God visited Moses in the tent, God came shrouded in a misty veil. The glory of God’s face would have been too much for any mortal to bear.

Like Moses and like the psalmist in today’s reading, we can never fully see God’s face. But with them, we can always “seek God’s face.” (Psalm 27:8) But while we are on this side of heaven, in the “land of the living,” God comes to us cloaked in His glory, a virtual mystery. (Psalm 27:13)Is God’s virtual presence any less real than if we were able to see God face-to-face? No. And the psalmist knew that. But that did not lessen the tug on his heart to seek God’s presence anyway.

Although God’s virtual presence is a mystery, it is as real as the protection of eagles who build a sturdy nest for their young. Although God’s virtual presence is a mystery, it is as real as the wind that carries us, on eagle’s wings, to the safety of a high rock. (Psalm 27:5) Although God’s virtual presence is a mystery, it is as real as the love of parents who adopt a forgotten child as their own. (Psalm 27:10)

So whatever evil threatens us, whatever army of chaos surrounds us, may we be like the psalmist and trust in God. May we never quit seeking God’s face. And may we share his utmost desire: “to live in the LORD's house all the days of [our lives], seeing the LORD's beauty and constantly adoring his temple.” For even when we can not see God’s face, we can worship God’s virtual presence always, every day of our lives -- whether we are worshiping in person or online -- until that glorious day in paradise when we will all see God’s beautiful face.