A few months back I, along with my wife, traveled to Fifty-Six, Ark. to attend the homegoing service of a loved one, Danny. After a few beautiful and touching musical selections, the minister approached the podium and gave opportunity for anyone in the congregation to share a special memory of Danny. Several in attendance responded, but one captured my attention and struck a chord in my heart. The comment this person made was that they probably did not know him as well as many others present, but the one thing which was most memorable was that, every time he was at a family gathering, it was so apparent that he unconsciously “carried the presence of the Lord” with him in his conversation and demeanor.
What an amazing and moving testimony! As I pondered those words, I wondered if that might not be exactly what I would want those whose lives I had touched to be able to say about me. Peter and John, as illustrated in Acts 4, so demonstrated the presence of the Lord that the members of the Jewish Sanhedrin court who had them arrested observed in Verse 13, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them that they had been ‘with Jesus.’” This verse, also, reveals the secret of our “carrying the presence of the Lord.” We must be much “with Jesus” in prayer and walking in His presence daily.
The Israelites had seen this illustrated in powerful fashion. Exodus 24:17-18 records, “And the sight of the glory of the Lord was a devouring fire on the top of the mount … and Moses went into the midst of the cloud … and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.” Exodus 34:28-30 continues, “And he (Moses) was there with the Lord…When he came down from the mount … Moses wist (knew) not that the skin of his face shone while He (the Lord) talked with him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone and they were afraid to come nigh (near) him.” It was necessary for Moses to cover his face with a veil. Again we see that the person “carrying the presence of the Lord” often or always, is unaware of it and the glorious effect it has on those around them.
Finally, we see the greatest example of the power and presence of the Lord in person illustrated in John 7:45-46, “Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them why have ye not brought Him (Jesus)? The officers answered, ‘Never man spake like this man.’” Many times throughout the Gospels when Jesus preached and taught, the Bible records that he spoke, “as one having authority.” To this very day, never has any man spoken with the love, compassion, power and authority of Jesus.
I am sure it is the desire of God’s children that others see Jesus in us. This song written by Rick Mullins and made famous by The Hinsons is often sung by a lady in our church, Ms. Kathy, “I may never journey far on the face of this earth. And when I pass my wealth may be just a few small pennies worth. And this old name that I’m known by may not be mentioned by great kings. All is well, if they remember these things. When they looked, they beheld Him. When I spoke they could hear Him. When I walked my every footstep led them all to Calvary. Give someone else worldly fame. But when someone speaks His name, let them recall they first saw Him in Me.” My prayer, “Lord, let it be so for me.”
— Randy Zinn is pastor of Russell Missionary Baptist Church, Russell, Ark.; formerly of Okmulgee.
