Draw Near

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

A true Christ follower will have a desire to be close to God; maybe I should say have a close relationship with God, that way, I’m not talking about a location. Therefore the first sentence in James 4:8 becomes of paramount importance. It says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

The expression “draw near” was originally associated with the people of Israel and in particular, the priesthood. In Old Testament times, the Levitical priests stood before God, representing the people. In order to do that, certain rituals of cleansing had to be performed. Prior to “drawing near” to God’s presence, the priest had to be ceremonially clean, meaning, taking a bath [ceremonial washing], wearing the approved garments [ceremonial garb], and offering a sacrifice [ceremonial cleansing] to make his heart right before God. Only then could he “draw near.”

The Hebrew word to “draw near” eventually came to apply to anyone who would approach the presence of God in worship. Isaiah made it clear when he said, “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men…” Isaiah 29:13

Worship with “hearts far removed from Me,” is not the kind of worship God is looking for in Christ followers. Jesus told a woman in Samaria that God is looking for people to “…worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24

The author of Hebrews used Old Testament language to say the same thing. “...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:22  

To “draw near” to God is a good thing. And isn’t that what you really want – to be near to God! 

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge that I may tell of all Thy works. Psalm 73:28