'Off to the next meeting.'

 One of my daily joys comes from receiving such messages. Amila sent me this picture, and her caption was, 'Off to the next meeting.' I can feel her joy.

Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.

Deuteronomy 34:4‭-‬6 NIV

Written by Jung 

"You will not cross over into it."

This is what God said to Moses after the entire journey, struggle, and devotion. He was 120 years old. How long had he dreamed of entering the promised land?

All that hard work, sacrifice, and dedication for God and his people were abruptly halted by one sentence: "You will not cross over it."

It seems like a very disheartening story and, in some sense, a significant personal setback. He came all the way to the door only to have it closed on him due to his own failure.

However, if you read on, it says that Moses died in God's presence, and God buried him in Moab, where no one knows.

It brings tears to my eyes to read that, not out of sadness but with overwhelming joy. It reminds me that what matters is not the great things I might achieve or how exceptional a person I may become in God's eyes, but having God's presence.

We all fall short of His glory, just as Moses did. What he never lost was God's presence with him.

Whatever we do today and whatever we work on today in Jesus' name, the work and its fruits are for Him, but for me, it's about His presence in me.

'Immanuel.'