In 2016, the Southeastern Conference sought to rebrand itself with an ad campaign touting the slogan, “It just means more.†Their first-ever TV spot shared many reasons why: “It means the heart of the home. The heart of campus, in the heart of town, in the heart of an entire state … It means all in the family, all together, and all alone, and it is so not a phase. Whatever it is, it just means more.â€
Whether you’re an enthusiastic sports fan, a mellow music lover, a fearless trailblazer, or a passionate chef, you most likely want more of what you love. We are wired for more. Thankfully, we serve a God who generously gives us an abundance of MORE than we could ask for or imagine!
Moses wasn’t timid about asking for more. He had heard God speak from a burning bush, witnessed astounding miracles in Egypt, and observed the Red Sea parting. He and his fellow Israelites received blessings of manna, quail, and water from a rock. They received many physical blessings, but they wanted and needed more.
It took God withdrawing from them to help them realize that it was His continuous presence that superseded any sort of physical blessing. Soon after the Israelites repented of placing their emphasis on material desires, Moses needed reassurance from God that He would be with them throughout their journey to the Promised Land. God responded to Moses’ request. He said, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest – everything will be fine for you.†(Exodus 33:14 NLT)
Charles Spurgeon considered Moses’ next request one of the boldest prayers in all of Scripture. Even after all Moses had witnessed, he still asked for more. His request was simply, “Show me Your glory.†(Exodus 33:18) The fullness of God’s glory while we are in our earthly bodies and on this earth would be far more than we could comprehend. It’s finally standing face to face with the totality of God’s glory that keeps us longing for our heavenly home. This glory is the MORE Christians long for.
God placed Moses in the cleft of the rock. Is your life resting securely in Jesus, the Rock of Ages? If it is, you know God’s loving hand covers you there because He loves you, you are His, and He has called you by name. Have you recognized all the goodness of God as it passed by? What has been your manna and quail? What has quenched your thirst? What astounding miracles has God already performed for you? Better still, have you felt the presence of God working in and through you? Does His presence mean more to you than any other thing you love?
God showed Moses His goodness rather than His glory. Until we fully know that God is truly good, we can’t fathom a smidgen more of His glory. He longs to reveal more and more of Himself to us as we journey toward our Promised Land. All we have to do is ask. Â
Let’s rebrand ourselves as a people longing for more of God. His presence gives our hearts a home – a home we share with an entire family, all together and especially all alone. The presence of God is not a phase or merely a feeling. It just means MORE!
“God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.â€
(1 Peter 1:2 NLT)
