Draw Near To God

-February 26, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.”

(James 4:8).

These last couple of days we have considered two important ways to victorious living in this sinful world: submit to God and resist the evil. The third thing found in James 4:7-8 is today’s topic, to draw near to God.

Drawing near to God is both a privilege and a responsibility. We have fellowship and communication with the living God. We then find that God will draw near to us. The great hymn writer Fanny Crosby wrote, “Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord to the cross where Thou hast died; draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to Thy precious bleeding side.”

Before we were saved we fled from God’s presence because of our sin and had no access to His holy presence. We were separated from God and dead in our transgressions and sins. God reached out to us in love and we responded in saving faith.

Ephesians 2:13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Christ’s shed blood has opened to us a new and living way into God’s presence. God is our Father and Jesus is our Lord and Savior. We are invited to come to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.

The word near is such a beautiful one. It means, “to come near (to someone or something); approach; in a close or intimate manner.” When you have intimacy in a relationship, there is a two-way communication. We draw near to God and He draws near to us. We need no appointment, for we can come before at anytime, any place, and tell me anything. We long to spend time with Him whom we love.

Coming into God’s presence we must cleanse our hands (what we do) and purify our hearts (what think and feel). This is where we start as we come before Him, confessing our sins to be right with Him. John wrote in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Let us then submit to God, resist the devil, and draw near to God. It is the best way to live as God’s holy people. Have a blessed day drawing near and walking close with the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

God makes it clear that we should always draw near.

Dean