“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22).
I woke up the other morning with my dog, Molly, snuggled up against me. In the summertime I’d rather she stay on her blanket and not against me. Any lady over 50 knows we don’t need anything with body heat against us! But Molly often seeks the spot next to me whenever I sit down to read or rest. She just wants to be close.
I thought about my closeness with God. Do I desire to cuddle up with God? Do I crave the spiritual food received from His Word? Do I desire to spend time talking with Him in prayer? I have to admit that sometimes the newspaper, email, or some other task becomes more important. My priorities get out of whack and my desires become distorted. My desires are directed toward selfish interests instead of toward the One who created me and gives me strength to keep going. What I need is what Jesus can supply.
I read of people in the Bible who wanted to be close to Jesus. There was the woman with a bleeding disorder who wanted to touch his cloak and believed she could be healed (Matthew 9:20-22). Mothers brought their children to Jesus so He could touch them and pray for them (Matthew 19:13-15). John records in chapter 12 the dinner event when Mary poured expensive perfume on the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. Now, that’s getting close! These people wanted to be close to Jesus because of what He had done for them or what they needed Him to do.
Isaiah, the prophet, upon seeing the Lord Almighty, recognized the holiness of the Lord and his own sinfulness. Coming near to God does that for us. We see our guilt in the presence of His holiness. Oh! But look at what God does for Isaiah. He takes away his guilt and atones for his sin. Then Isaiah is ready to be useful for God’s service (Isaiah 6:1-8). God cleanses us with the blood of Jesus so we can be useful for His Kingdom. James says in chapter 4 and verse 8, “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Staying near to God helps me focus on what is important and what He wants me to do. So no matter what task I’m doing I do it with God beside me. If I can’t ask God to bless what I’m doing and walk beside me, should I be doing it? When I sit with God at the beginning of my day, reading the Bible, praying, and seeking His guidance I know He will be near me for the rest of the day. It’s a goal I don’t always meet, but praise God, I’m improving.
God gives us His Spirit to remind us of Jesus’ teachings, to guide us and to comfort us. When we submit to the leading of the Spirit we stay close to God.
“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds” (Psalm 73:28).