Friday, November 24, 2017

"The Last Step"


"The Last Step"

    "It is good for me to draw near to God" (Psalm 73:28).

    The Psalmist states an obvious maxim regarding the very Life of our lives, but one we must nevertheless often read, hear, and remember.  Interestingly, the primary reason for the good declared by the Psalmist regarding our drawing near to God involves what seems to be an enigma.

    "Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you" (James 4:8).

    James almost seems to place the responsibility for fellowship with the Lord within the province of our determination and actions.  In a sense, this is true.  Relationship between two parties means that both must take steps toward each other for association and communication to occur.  As Solomon declared, "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly" (Proverbs 18:24).  Regarding our bond with the Lord, we must relate to Him in order to fully experience the fact of His involved presence in our hearts and lives.  This means that we must respond to the Holy Spirit's moving within us to seek the One who seeks us.  James' contention that God draws near as we draw near to Him must be viewed in the light of the whole counsel of Scripture.  Our desire and decision to seek the Lord begins with His seeking of us, again, by the Holy Spirit's working in us to approach our Lord in responsive devotion. 

    "When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek" (Psalm 27:8).

    God's "Seek ye My face" initiates our "Thy face, Lord, will I seek."  This leads to His drawing near to us in the sense of fellowship because He has no desire in a forced communion with us that would be meaningful to neither Him or ourselves.  We might say that regarding communication with our Heavenly Father, He beckons and provides motivation for fellowship, but awaits our response until He takes the last step toward us that fosters genuine nearness of loving devotion and communication.   This involves our conscious approach to the Throne of grace in prayer, reading or remembrance of Scripture, fellowship with other believers, and an expectant and responsive heart to God and His working along the pathways of life.  Thus, our fellowship with Him is real, free, and meaningful as enabled by the Holy Spirit, and as accessed by our seeking of the One who seeks us.  

    We were made for such grace, and redeemed by the Christ whose indwelling presence provides the power for this Life of our lives.  It is indeed good to "draw near to God," and it is even better as He takes "the last step" of drawing near to us in living and loving fellowship.

"God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father."
(Galatians 4:6)
"But as for me, I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy: and in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple."
(Psalm 5:7)

Weekly Memory Verse
   Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
(Hebrews 12:28)

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