Richard Blackaby

There is some Christian lingo currently being used that sounds great but isn’t theologically accurate. It goes: “I went to church last week and God showed up!” Another popular thing to say in public prayers these days is: “God, we invite you to join us in our worship today . . .” We tend to forget that when we come to church, we are the guests, not Him. It may seem like theological hairsplitting, but if we talk incorrectly about God, the next thing that happens is that we begin to relate to God improperly as well.

God doesn’t show up in our churches or religious meetings or quiet times. He is already there. What happens is that occasionally the scales from our spiritual eyes are lifted and we suddenly realize that God has been present all along. That’s what happened to Moses. He was shepherding his flock near Mount Horeb, better known as Mount Sinai, just as he had many times before. Suddenly, he noticed an unusual sight, a burning bush that was not consumed. Moses turned aside to investigate and the rest is history.

As soon as God got Moses’ attention, God said “. . . Take the sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground!” (Ex. 3:5). What made a little patch of desert holy? God’s presence. Any place where God is working is sacred. As you read this account you might exclaim, of course that place was holy, it was Mount Sinai! That would be the site where Moses received the Ten Commandments and the law from the hand of God Himself. While Moses was on that mountain, there would be fire, lightning and peels of thunder that would terrify the Israelites watching from below (Exodus 19:16-18; 24:17-18). It would be there that Moses would ask to see God and where Moses would intercede for the rebellious Israelites by crying, "I pray, blot me out of Your book which you have written” (Exodus 32:32). When Moses came down from that sacred mount after having met with God, his face glowed, terrifying the people (Exodus 34:29-30). Moses would have some incredible experiences with God on that mount! Yet, until the day he turned aside to meet with God, it seemed like any other place. Moses may have worked beside Mount Sinai on several occasions before and would have assumed this day would be no different than any other. He had no idea how meaningful and sacred that location could be. To him, it was just his workplace. An ordinary place.

God is present in your work place. That makes it holy. While that doesn’t mean you have to walk around your office in bare feet, it does compel you to keep your spiritual senses alert to God’s activity around you. God is working in your office toward the salvation of your colleague’s eternal souls. God is seeking to encourage those who have lost their hope. He is drawing near to those who are calling out to Him. He is seeking to comfort those who mourn and to bring peace to troubled hearts. He wants to set people free.

Could it be that you have viewed your office as a work place, a financial institution, an arena of trade or administration, but not a holy place? There may be a Mount Sinai looming above your workplace. You don’t have to pray and invite God into your office. He’s already there. Ask Him to open your spiritual eyes to recognize His presence. Then prepare yourself for an amazing adventure.