by Naomi Moon

God Shows Up

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

“Where shall I go from your Spirit?

Or where shall I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

If I take the wings of the morning

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me.”

Psalm 139:7-10 English Standard Version

In the middle of walking in downtown Breckenridge, we saw this moose minding its own business, chewing on some leaves. It surprised us to be so close to an awesome moose, somewhere we wholly didn’t expect him to be.

God can surprise us too, showing up in the most unexpected places. Maybe you saw God working in the life of someone close to you, or had a heart to heart reconciliation with someone. Maybe you saw God in the beauty of creation, or the joy of a child. God can show himself to us wherever he likes, even if unexpected, but there is also comfort in knowing that God promises to show up for us. 

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Matthew 18:20 English Standard Version

He promises to be present in expected ways, like when we gather together in worship and praise in church, when we participate as a community in the Sacraments, or when we come to the Lord in prayer. Christ is present with us, through the work of the Holy Spirit, in a consistent way we can rely on. At the beginning of all things, when God created the world, he knew that he would dwell with us. He dwelled with Adam and Eve in the Garden, he dwelled with his people throughout the Old Testament, he dwelled with man in the person of Jesus Christ, and he dwells with us in the work of the Holy Spirit today and his presence in the Sacraments. We can be awe-inspired when he shows up unexpectedly, and comforted when he shows up when he promised to. 

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado