Encounter the Word:
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…” --James 4:8a [KJV]
How often does the heaviness of life’s sometimes ruthless
and relentless circumstances have you pondering where GOD is? Ever ask for a
spiritual intervention from some more seasoned Christian only to get a “God is
just a prayer away” response, which doesn’t seem to satisfy the longings of
your soul? Have you ever longed for the day when you wouldn’t have to put
together a “search party” to find GOD ‘cause He obviously seemed to be missing
from your life when you needed Him most?
If indeed you have experienced similar thoughts, you are not
alone. The affect of sin has placed a dark cloud over the human family that we
appear to have lost contact with our Heavenly Father, especially when we seem
to need Him most. Truth is that men have sought to remedy this dilemma through
man-made religions whose aim is to seek and find God or it’s “higher power” as
if this Supreme Being were lost. Thankfully the Scriptures paint another
picture.
Jesus says, "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." --Matthew 28:20b [KJV]
The apostle James admonishes us to “draw
near to God” and GOD would respond in kind by drawing near to us. On the
surface this is not very comforting considering we may not know where GOD is in
the first place to draw near.
As with the the disciple Philip, we long to see the Father:
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. --John 14:8-10 [KJV]
John captures Jesus’ reassuring words in John
6:44 [KJV] where He states, “No man can come to me, except the Father which
hath sent me draw him…” By faith we behold Jesus--GOD in a form we are
familiar with because He came to identify with our hopes, aspirations and even
our sorrows. Our souls long for Him as we seek the reassurance only He can
provide. The Father is drawing us to the Son by placing this “longing for”
within us of which He fully intends to fulfill.
Before we ever sought Him, GOD the Father sought us through His Son, Christ Jesus.
If GOD is drawing me to His Son, what’s my role? “Submit yourselves therefore to God…”
James 4:7a [KJV]. Don’t resist the drawing of the Lord or turn a deaf ear to
that “still small voice” that speaks to us. The comfort, peace, strength and
direction you seek is much closer than you’ve been lead to believe for your
Heavenly Father is drawing you into an intimate relationship with Himself
beyond your wildest imaginations. Don’t resist!
Encounter Prayer:
And since we have a great priest over God's house, let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because
we have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have
been washed with pure water. Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he promised. Amen. --Hebrews 10:21-23 [NCV]
Encounter:
- When in your life has GOD felt distant? What emotions emerged during those times?
- What did you assume caused the distance? What pictures of GOD did it paint in your heart/mind?
- As GOD reveals His omnipresence to you, and further His pursuit of you through His Son, Christ Jesus, what is your response?
- What steps will you take towards GOD today?
Devotional by Russell W. Sails. Posted by A. Allan Martin by permission.
No comments:
Post a Comment