Where Are You? 
This devotional was written by Mike DeVries

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. —2 Corinthians 5:20

One day, I was watching the news on television. I saw a report about refugees. The images I saw were disturbing—millions of face, thousands dying daily from malnutrition and lack of basic medical care. A question ran through my mind: “God, if you’re a God of love, then where are You in all this? Have You forgotten your children?

While watching the report, I wondered why situations like this happen if God is truly sovereign and in control. Either God is not completely in control, or He has somehow chosen to allow the atrocities that we see in this world to exist. Either way, it’s hard to understand.

As I wrestled with this, it occurred to me that the story of the Scriptures is about a God who is present and active in human history. God is not essentially somewhere else, but is active and present in this world. We see this in Jesus, do we not? The incarnation of God in Jesus sent a clear message, “I care. I have heard your cry, and I’m here to do something about it.

As I was sitting on my couch watching those images and asking those questions, another thought came. Perhaps I was asking the wrong question. Rather than asking, “Where is God?”, the better question may be posed by God, “My people, where are you in the midst of all this?

Paul taught this concept in 2 Corinthians 5:20. Take another look at today’s verse. We, the Church, are to be the physical representatives of God on earth. If the world wants to know what God is like, the first place it should look is the Church. We are to embody the message and spirit of Jesus. As His representatives, God is making His dream for this world through us, not apart from us. I guess you could say that the Church is not only supposed to proclaim the message, we are to live the message.

Perhaps the next time we approach a situation in life and ask, “God, where are You in all this?”, if we are quiet enough to hear the voice of God, His reply might be, “I’m right here in the middle of it. Where are you?

May we be the kind of people who embody the message of God for the world, and who run to be God’s hands and feet, reaching out to others in His name.

GOING DEEPER: 

Take a few moments to consider what it might look like for the Church to be the embodiment of God on earth.

How should this change the way we live? How might this change the way you live?

FURTHER READING: 
Exodus 19:3-6; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Peter 2:9-10 

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