Genesis 3:8-9 English Standard Version

⁸ And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool^[a] of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

We have heard this story so many times and yet there is always something to learn about God that is so simple we often overlook it. While pondering the issues of how to tell children about God it became clear that man’s vision of God is one of a God in heaven on the throne. So often we look to passages about climbing a holy hill to find God that we forget God is Omni-present.

God is present everywhere all the time.

In the most simple terms God comes to us right here, where we are and calls out to us. We do not see that if we are looking for Him to be some ethereal being so distant to us that it is nearly impossible to find Him.

I would begin explaining to children about God by saying, “If you like someone, don’t you want to be with them?” The concept of so great a love as God is can be confusing. Put things in perspective of that which a child can understand. God comes to us where we are in our own understanding. He wants to be accepted and to do so makes it possible for us to come to know Him in our ability.

Why make things impossible to understand? Why not keep it simple? Rather than searching for God in a realm we cannot understand, look for Him right here, where we live. The simplest of prayer might sound childlike, but Jesus said we must come to God as little children, so keep it simple.

“God I want to get to know you.”

1 Timothy 1:5-7 English Standard Version

⁵ The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. ⁶ Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, ⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

The love that issues forth from a pure heart is agape, perfect love. A good conscience and sincere faith only facilitate loves release and are not responsible for the quality of that love.

Paul’s warning in this opening letter to Timothy is directed towards those who desire to teach in our churches. The same could be said about any of us in that the aim of love is meant to be universal. Love will do what loves does because that is what agape love is in performance and character.

What do we think when we hear someone say “I got this.” The need to place “I” in the forefront is a clear indication of confidence in the flesh. Vain discussions do not produce Godly results. God does not move in vain attempts. God moves in agape love, released from a pure heart by good conscience and sincere faith.

When we come to a better understanding of God’s Word we should be mindful always of just how we got there. Our instructor is the Holy Spirit. Comfort from Him is not confidence in the flesh, it is given to overcome the anxiety of human reflection of a past life which we left behind.

The flesh will always tag along and try to take credit for what God has done. We spend a good portion of our former life trying to be achievers. We left that life to pursue a life in Christ. The longer we do that successfully the more our lives reflect the love inside us.

It has to get through our flesh to be seen.