The Boy And The Mop

I heard a funny story this week about a young boy who was afraid of the dark.  It was late evening when the boy’s mother asked him to bring in the mop from the porch outside.  “It’s dark,” the boy said with a nervous look on his face.  “You know Jesus is always with you,” his mother replied.  “Oh, yeah,” the boy spoke with some relief as he opened the porch door a couple inches, stuck his hand out and said, “Jesus, will you hand me the mop?”

I’m sure his mother gave further explanation to the boy but isn’t the display of his faith precious?  The fact is, while not in the flesh, Jesus is indeed always with us by His Spirit.  Just think, the very Spirit of Almighty God resides within everyone who has received Him into their lives.  Therefore, it really is true that Jesus is always with us.

At a morning Bible study I was attending recently, a woman shared that although she lives alone, she finds that her relationship with Jesus is such that she is always talking to Him.  “When the phone rings,” she told us, “I hear myself saying, ‘Jesus help me deal with whatever this call is about.'”  I love the intimacy she shared with us.

I have some of my best conversations with the Lord while driving.  I comment on amazing cloud formations, the beauty of the seashore I drive by, or I discuss with Him whatever comes to my mind.  I talk out loud about things that concern me.  I ask blessings on various friends and neighbors as they enter my thoughts.

The young boy asking Jesus for the mop wasn’t far off the mark.  Jesus really is with us always.  There are times we sense His presence more acutely some days that others, but what we feel never changes the fact; Jesus is always with us.  If we call and listen, we can hear Him speak into our hearts offering guidance or peace or courage.  Whatever we need, He is right there with us.  The practice of the presence of God is a worthy endeavor that promises to bless us; not some of the time, but all of the time.

“It is the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth.  The world cannot receive Him because the world isn’t looking for Him.  But you know Him, because He lives with you and is in you.”  John 14:17