I have been staying mainly at home, getting out occasionally. The other day, however, I went to a friend’s house and picked up some masks she made for the church and for my daughter. My daughter is working from home, so I decided to take hers to her. That meant a bit of a ride in the car.
When I spend time in my car, I listen to the Christian radio station. That afternoon I heard a new song – at least new to me. It pierced my soul. Maybe you have heard it, “The God Who Stays,” by Matthew West. If not, there is a link at the end of this devotion.
“You are the God who stays, You’re the One who walks in my direction when the whole world walks away.”
Those few words took my breath away. I began to weep the first time I heard the song, and I weep again every time I hear it.
Yesterday I reminded us of the words of Moses to the Children of Israel as they were ready to take the Promised Land. God gave them the option to choose life or death. When they chose life, they were choosing Him. That choice involved loving Him, listening to His voice (obedience) and holding fast to Him (faith). [Deuteronomy 30:19-20]
That is a beautiful description of our walk with God. But what has me weeping this morning is that part of our relationship which involves His holding on to us. He stays – even when everyone else might walk away – He stays.
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” [Deuteronomy 31:6,8; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5]
“…nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Rom 8:39]
I know what I am. I know what I would be without Him. I know the blackness in my own heart apart from His grace. So, to know that He loves me, that He stays with me, that He clings to me even when I fight against His touch, is beyond my understanding.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPwd_TQpsHY
