How glibly we all talk about the Lord's presence in our church services. We seem to imagine that the existence of quietness is, in itself, a sign of God's presence in the service; and it might well be. We think that when people weep as they listen to the preaching of the Word, that that is a sign of God's presence; and that is probably true, too.
But the one thing that is manifestly missing from many of our church services is this: Christians and unbelievers alike are not be humbled by the Lord's presence; and if this is not happening, is He really there? Are we opting for the easy answer or easy explanation for the 'stillness' and claiming that God's presence produced it, when no one present is broken by their sin and guilt?
Of course, there is such a spirituality as hardness of heart. This can explain why we are not seeing the visible manifestations of God's presence with His redeemed people when they worship Him. I confess that while there have been times when I felt that God was very near, this did not humble me in the dust. Is my heart so icy hard that the very presence of Almighty God cannot melt it? I shudder at the very thought!
Perhaps this is why the Christian (evangelical and reformed) church is so unspiritual and so insensitive to the presence of the risen Lord in our services. Our hearts can no longer feel that God is near. We are living so far from Him that we do not really recognise His presence with us.
Let us pray God that he will have mercy upon us, and that, by His Spirit, He will melt our hardened hearts and bring them again under His sovereign sway. If we need anything today in the Church, it is to be humbled by the presence of the Lord.
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