The little things matter to me. Last Sunday at church, someone did something to me that they may have forgotten, but I haven’t because it made a big impact on me. While I leaned on the wall in the courtyard of the church, one of the men saw me, then came over and told me that I looked tired. He gave me a kiss on the cheek as is the normal greeting in Argentina, and then proceeded to ask what had happened after I had told him that I was very, very tired. He stopped and listened to me as I explained that my neighbor came in after 2:00 in the morning with a lady and they partied together until after 5:30 in the morning and I was hearing everything. He sympathized with my plight and hoped I would get some rest, then moved on. That was a short conversation, but it had a great effect on me because he had truly seen me. He recognized right away what was wrong with me and took the time to find out why things were wrong. As I reflected on what had happened, he seemed to be a good representation of the God-Who-Sees.
Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me? Genesis 16:13
Hagar was running away from Sarai, who was treating her badly because Hagar had a son for her husband. No, don’t blame Hagar for being a home breaker as she was the servant of Sarai, who told her husband to go have relations with her so he could have a child. Seriously, I am not sure why people watch soap operas when all they have to do is read the Bible for lots of drama. Hagar became tired of Sarai’s abuse after the incident, so she ran away. She was pregnant and alone in the wilderness, but that couldn’t stop God from seeing her and sending His angel to give her instructions to go back to her mistress and he also told her the plan God had for her descendants. Hagar then calls the Lord, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees. She was not forgotten. She was seen by God. We are all seen by God and not forgotten. The Samaritan woman in John 4, would have also felt seen by Jesus as He went out of His way to have an encounter with her at the well.
The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. Psalm 33:13
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3
It is so awesome that we have an All-seeing, Ever-present God. I believe He calls us to be present for others also. Last week in one of my Bible studies, we spoke about “the ministry of presence”. The video we watched stated how Mary Magdalene ministered to Mary, the mother of Jesus, through her presence in the good and bad times.
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John 19:25
Too often we tell people we will pray for them as they go through their bad times, and we often forget. And even if we do pray, many times we do not stop to spend time with them to know how to pray for them. Being present allows us to really see people. We shouldn’t be so busy with church and our own agenda to miss God’s agenda, which is always people. Jesus came to earth and died for the world. He left His glory to become a man of no reputation to be with the people. He was present whether it was with His disciples or a scorned Samaritan woman. Jesus made an impact with His presence and so should we. We should take time to be in God’s presence and out of that time with Him, He will show us how to be present for those around us. He has positioned us to be present.
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
This is not just about meeting in a church building. It is so much more. In the times of the New Testament, the followers of Christ were meeting in homes. It wasn’t as formal as we are now. They were there for each other as a community praying for each other and encouraging each other. They were present for each other, and they could truly see each other and recognize the other’s needs. It must have felt good to be seen.
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