When we understand that one of the major themes of the Bible is God’s desire to have fellowship and communion with mankind, it becomes clear that God’s presence is the priority of our entire faith.
Unfortunately, however, many Christians do not have religious experiences or perspectives that reflect this priority.
We learn God’s standards, rules, likes, and dislikes, and that if we follow them we should have good results with God, right? Most of us can relate to that kind of understanding of Christianity.
However, the scriptures paint a different picture of what our faith should focus on.
Relationship is the Purpose
In Genesis, the Bible introduces us to a loving Creator who experiences a separation from his creation (Genesis 2,3) and sets into motion a plan to give everything in order to reconcile and restore the relationship (John 1:1-14; 17:24, Ephesians 1:3-11)
To experience and maintain the reconciliation, mankind has to realign with God as often and as consistently as possible.
Because we live in human flesh, we are naturally separated from an understanding of and communion with the divine. So, despite being made in God’s image, in our fallen state, we don’t know how to act like it (Genesis 1:26-30; 3:8-22, Romans 8:5-8).
We have to learn to align with the Spirit of God; we must yield and conform to the standards of God through an agreement and alignment with the mindset of God (Amos 3:3, Romans 8:29; 12:2, 2Peter 1:4, Philippians 2:5-11). It is through this alignment that we can experience the flow of relationship with God.
Presence is the Point
Relationship requires presence; that’s what makes the idea of having a relationship with God so revolutionary – God has to manifest himself so he can be present with you!
Think about that; relationship with God is not relationship with his works, his people, or even just his recorded word. Your relationship with God is measured by the presence of God in your life, because the presence is the point.
God has reconciled mankind unto himself again so that he can dwell with man (Genesis 3:8-9, Leviticus 26:11-12, Revelation 21:3-4). Being present with each other, even if we are generally separated by the natural realm and the unlikeness it brings, is the goal of the relationship. God can achieve his agenda when he can operate in relationship with his people.
In order to do that, we must enter into the presence of God.
While it is true that God is everywhere, or omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Proverbs 15:3), God’s identity is not manifested everywhere. We have to enter into a more conscious and active presence of God, which reveals the person of God by his Spirit.
God wants to dwell with his creation and manifest his love through their relationship. When we are walking in love with God, we demonstrate his spirit and power to others, sharing his love and his presence with them.
That’s how we share the gospel and minister to the saints – by being present with God (Psalm 26:8; 27:4) and sharing what he gives to us in his presence (2 Corinthians 5:17-20).
The 100th Psalm
One of the most well-loved passages in the Bible, the 100th Psalm is a psalm of praise. David is commanding the people with a standard of righteousness; he is establishing right behavior and the proper mindset for approaching God.
Prophetically, the 100th Psalm also provides a spiritual directive for us in Christ for entering into the manifest presence of God through the temple or tabernacle of our bodies (2 Corinthians 5:1; 6:16).
How are we supposed to serve the Lord? With gladness and singing. Why? Because God is our Creator and we don’t belong to ourselves. Since it is he who made us, we should focus on him positively and gratefully. The implication is that this aligned disposition will prepare us for further dealings with God; for relationship.
The 100th Psalm deals with just getting in the door.
In the Tabernacle of David, worshippers were encouraged to enter with thanksgiving and praise as they prepared to serve the presence of God in the sanctuary. In Christ, we are not entering a physical temple but a spiritual one, with our body serving as the outer edifice with the presence of God inside.
How do we access the manifest presence of God when it’s not already resting in an external location or holy place? By returning your mindset to one of thanksgiving and praise, and actually offering the sacrifice of praise unto God (Hebrews 13:15). The presence of God can then manifest in your temple, no matter where you are geographically.
Deeper Meaning in the 100th Psalm
Interestingly, David also creates a double entendre with verses 3 and 4, expressing two ways to look at the matter of entering into God’s gates with thanksgiving.
In verse 3, those being admonished by the psalmist are said to be the sheep of God’s pasture. Immediately after, David tells the hearer to enter into God’s gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. The natural assumption is that David is talking to people who are entering the tabernacle by the gate, as was the Jewish custom.
But David was also speaking to the sheep referenced in verse 3; they come into the tabernacle by the sheepgate.
As sheep going to the sacrifice, we are to do so with thanksgiving, blessing the name of the Lord for the opportunity. We enter into the presence of the Lord in the spirit by first dying to the flesh (John 12:24-25, Romans 6:6-7; 11-12, Galatians 2:20); that’s the revelation of the implied sheepgate in verse 4.
And when we die to the flesh truly and effectively, we do it with great thanks and praise to God for the opportunity to be resurrected in his presence as a result.
What This Means for Me
As we express our love for God, we must learn and adapt to the divine nature so we can become like him. We achieve this adaptation in the presence of God, and we enter into the presence of God with a mindset and heart posture of thanksgiving and praise. The scripture even tells us explicitly that living in thanksgiving is God’s will for our lives (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
It is the will of God for you to remain in his presence at all times, even now, in this present world.
That is how depth of relationship is established; with mutual presence.
Key Study References
Psalm 100
Amos 3:3
2 Corinthians 5:17-20
Philippians 2:5-11
Ephesians 1:3-11
Hebrews 13:15
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Psalm 100
1 {A Psalm of praise.} Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Amos 3:3
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
2 Corinthians 5:17-20
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Philippians 2:5-11
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Ephesians 1:3-11
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Hebrews 13:15
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God toward you in Christ Jesus.
