Sermon Central
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Ortberg On God's Presence
Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 7, 2011 (message contributor)
ORTBERG ON GOD'S PRESENCE
John Ortberg’s quote about God’s Presence:
"Now let us bring God into the picture. The reality with God is that we are never speaking or acting in his absence. The psalmist said, 'Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.' However, God allows us to sometimes feel as if we are away from him, which I think he does for a reason. Do you ever drive differently when you see a squad car behind you? Why? It is not because your heart is changed. It is not because you see that squad car and think, Oh, I want to be a good driver. You don’t want to get a ticket! You don’t want that little light flashing in the rearview mirror. You see God doesn’t want forced compliance. God is so immense that if he were 'too visible,' people would give forced compliance without expressing their heart. So God makes it possible, in enormous love, for us to live as if he were not there."
(Ortberg, The Me I Want To Be, Page 133).
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