15 Jan

Come Closer

posted by Lisa Huddleston

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8

This morning I awoke with a song playing over and over in my head, “Come closer, closer than ever,” and immediately I was reminded of the admonition in James to draw near to God. It was such a vivid and personal call to my heart that I wanted to jump out of bed and run to where He was, to throw my arms around Him, and to hold on for dear life. Just to laugh and delight in His presence. But, I wasn’t sure where to run … It is so hard for us as flesh and blood creatures to have a clear grasp on the Spirit that is God. We want to touch Him and to feel Him near—to pull our chair next to His, to sit at His feet, to climb into His lap and rest our heads against His shoulder—but all we have is this longing … and the promise that He will draw near to us when we draw near to Him.

That leads us to ask the question, “How can we draw near to God?” Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). It is God who starts the process. He puts the desire for Him in our hearts and refuses to let it be satisfied in any other way. We may try to fill it with many things—entertainment, material possessions, romance, work, busy-ness—but we always know that deep inside of us is the longing for more that only He can fill.

When God draws us, then it is our turn to respond. We must acknowledge that He is Lord. This recognition is so much more than simply speaking the words (Isaiah 29:13); it is a matter of a changed heart. James 4:7-8 says, “Therefore, submit to God … Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people … Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” Again, the action is God’s. As we recognize our low position before Him and fall at His feet, He is the One who lifts us up. “But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head” (Psalm 3:3). It is only in the strong arms of the Lord Jesus that I can be lifted into the lap of my Father. Once there, I can rest in His love and know that He is real.

Father, so many times I have longed to see you face to face and to touch the hands that have lifted me up. To cry out like the Beloved One in Song of Songs, “Take me with you—let us hurry” (1:4). But, you have me here for a purpose, and I have to wait. Help me to serve you for as long as I am here, and when this time is over, allow me to run to you. “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20)

Filed in: Responding to God