The God Who Comes Alongside

DRAW NEAR TO GOD

Trinity Sunday

May 30, 1999

The Hayford Street gang story.

When I was about 7 or 8 years old we moved into our very first house of our own; I had a room of my own– on Magnolia Street in Lansing Michigan. The Hayford Street gang story. Has become a metaphor for my life . . .

I DON'T KNOW what Isaiah faced. He was in the temple. Maybe for the usual reasons . . maybe he was feeling loss (Uzziah died . .) I don't know, but the focus went from Isaiah's needs to a sense of God's Presence. God came alongside.

There was MAJESTY and there was MYSTERY — but there was also MERCY: Isaiah saw himself in new light; but he also got help.

FIFTY YEARS AGO this very year I discovered Isaiah 41:10 on the way to Eastern Nazarene College in early September, 1949, in the Durkee's new Plymouth. The occasion was evening bible reading. I didn't know where I was, but God not only knew, He let me know that He knew.

And many times since. This is TRINITY SUNDAY. The Sunday when we are challenged to ponder the MAJESTY and the MYSTERY of our great God. But best of all, we have a God who comes alongside when we need Him.

I don't know where YOU are on your spiritual journey this morning. I don't know what has motivated you to be here in worship. I don't know what storms you've come through, or what you may be facing just now. But I do know that we have a God who is there for us! I do know that true worship is a two-way conversation!

We have a great and wonderful God, who fills the heavens. But this great God comes alongside and lets us walk with Him. He is nearer than we think– every day of our lives. From time to time He lets us know.

Prayer

O God, thank you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for your majesty, and for the wonder of your glory. But thank You most of all that you CARE, and that you COME to where we are. Help us to learn to walk with You. We ask in our Savior's name, Amen - Hymn