Day 42/365- Exodus 33:15-16

¹⁵ And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. ¹⁶ For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:15-16)

What makes Christians different from everyone else? What sets them apart? What is distinct about them that is not distinct about any other group of people in the world?

Often times Christians think that they are better than others. Isn't this one of the biggest critiques that others have of followers of Jesus? How many of us have ever heard, "Well, if you would get off your high horse then maybe you could understand me."

Christians are notorious for being intolerant. That is what the world wants from Christians, tolerance.

And yet if we are careful, we will see that there is little difference between Christians & non-Christians. Well, there is actually a huge difference but it doesn't lie with the Christian. See, Christians are not perfect people. They don't have it all together. In fact, it could be said that Christians are more messed up than non-Christians. Some statistics back this up.

I do believe that there should be a big difference between how Christians act and treat others compared to those that don't know Jesus. Jesus on the inside makes a difference on the outside. And so what makes this big difference?

Moses tells us Exodus 33 that it is the presence of God that makes the difference.  God says that he will not go with his people to the land that he promised. He will give it to them and drive the inhabitants out but he will not go with them. Moses argues that nothing could be worse! He asks God, "Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?"

See, we still are just as much as sinners as people that don't know Jesus. We are just as much in need of a Savior as them. The thing that sets us apart has nothing to do with us and everything to do with him. God's presence is the separator.   It is his presence in us and the transformation that it brings that makes ALL the difference. God sets us apart.

I believe this should both humble & empower us. We need to realize that without the presence & grace of God in our lives, we would be in the same place as those without Jesus. And, if we have the very presence of the God of the universe with us, what else do we need? What is too difficult for him to do?

Humility & empowerment. Sounds like the present day church could use a lot of both. I know I do in my own life.