#1516. Does God’s presence distinguish us? (14/5/26)
- Matt Beaney
- May 14
- 5 min read
Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (posted, at present, every weekday) as we continue a short series in celebration of our church’s 150th anniversary.
God’s presence among us is to be the distinguishing mark of a Christian and a church - let’s reflect on what this means.
To watch this devotional, please select the link below:
‘Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”’ (Exodus 33:15-16)
Most sports teams are distinguished by their kit. In football, for example, a team’s colours and emblem make them instantly recognisable from the opposition and enable the game to function properly. If both teams wore the same kit, players would struggle to know who to pass to, and the game would quickly descend into confusion and lose its purpose.
How are Christians to be distinguished?
Is it by clothing or fashion — baggy or skinny jeans, certain types of hats, bumper stickers on our cars, particular shoes, sandals, fashionable trainers, or tattoos?
As Christians, it is vital that we remember that God looks at the heart. Character is the overflow of a healthy, Spirit-filled heart. Christians are not primarily distinguished by outward appearance, but by God’s presence with them and at work within them.
So, what should people see in our lives and church communities that identifies us as people among whom God is present?
i. A people of God’s presence are distinguished by praise
Firstly, just as God’s people were called to depend upon and praise Him as they entered the Promised Land, Christians are to recognise that their salvation — and any fruit or success in their lives — comes through God’s presence and grace.
Therefore, a people marked by God’s presence will also be marked by thankfulness and praise. They will not boast in themselves, but continually give glory to God for all that He has done and continues to do among them.
ii. A people of God’s presence are distinguished by holiness
God’s presence calls His people to be different in character and conduct. There should be a visible moral distinctiveness - purity, integrity, honesty, humility, repentance, and love.
It is important to remember that, in the context of this narrative, God has just given Moses the Ten Commandments - the summary of the moral life that was to distinguish His people from the surrounding nations. God’s presence was never separated from God’s holiness.
Yet, even while receiving God’s commands, Israel turned instead to idolatry. Earlier in this narrative, we see the people make a golden calf, and we read:
‘So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.’ (Exodus 33:6)
What is at the heart of a person or community will eventually be revealed in their lifestyle. People will see what we truly value by the way we live.
If career and success are our idols, this will become visible. If comfort, entertainment, or hobbies sit at the centre of our lives, this too will be seen. If there is a “golden calf” in our hearts — some false god that has captured our devotion — its influence will eventually become evident.
But if Jesus is truly at the centre, this also will be seen. God’s presence shapes a different kind of life. A holy people will increasingly reflect the character of the God who dwells among them.
iii. A people of God’s presence are distinguished by prayer and worship
This overlaps with our first point on praise, but here I want to emphasise prayer. A people marked by God’s presence will be distinguished by prayer - if God is truly at the heart of a people, they will seek Him and speak with Him.
It is very telling that in this same chapter we read of ‘the tent of meeting’:
‘The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.’ (Exodus 33:11)
Moses and Joshua provide a wonderful example of how God’s people are to respond to His presence: they sought Him in prayer, worship, and intimacy. God’s presence drew them to Himself.
As the people observed this hunger for God in Moses and Joshua, so the world should see it in Christ’s church today. Are we distinguished by personal and corporate prayer and worship? Do people see in us a genuine desire for God’s presence? Or does a casual, distracted, and prayerless approach make us largely indistinguishable from the world around us?
Response
There’s so much more that could be said about how God’s presence among us will distinguish us from the world around us. Christians, and His church, are the temple of the Holy Spirit! Paul urges the Corinthians church to allow this truth to transform them:‘
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?’ (1 Corinthians 3:16)
If God truly dwells among us, then this should be visible in our worship, our holiness, our love, our unity, our prayerfulness, and our witness to the world. The distinguishing mark of God’s people is not ultimately style, culture, or outward appearance, but the transforming presence of God Himself.
To watch our anniversary video, please select the link below:
Community Group Study
Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.
On Sunday, we celebrated 150 years since the founding of Community Church Putney in 1876.
A text that has really spoken to us in recent years - the text that is at the heart of our devotions this week - is Exodus 33:15-16.
Please read Exodus 33:15-16 and discuss:
Personal Reflection – What brought you to Community Church, and what has really encouraged you during your time here?
What is at the heart of Moses dissatisfaction with God’s offer?
What does it mean to be distinguished by God’s presence, and how can we seek to be such a church?
SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)
From our text, what do we learn about God’s presence and our effectiveness in mission?
Sharing Stories – Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing stories of how we’ve seen God at work through simple faithfulness.
Practical Next Steps – Who might God be placing on your heart at this time? Are there any “people of peace” (see note) in your life—those who seem open, welcoming, or receptive to spiritual conversation?
Let’s Pray Together
Let’s pray for one another in light of what we’ve studied and bring any other needs before God.
Pray for courage, wisdom, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit in our Serve, Invest, and Invite opportunities.
Pray specifically for the ‘people of peace’ in our lives - that God would open hearts and deepen relationships.
General prayer: From our study, or from personal needs, how do people want prayer?
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