“…. he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8a
Today, as His children, we get to initiate with the King of Kings.
And we are called to do so.
This is amazing! So why would it not be our first priority?
Whatever today’s answer to that question may be, here is the real reason we neglect our set aside, quiet time with the Lord and His Word on any given day:
there is a spiritual battle going on.
And rather than waging this warfare, that we have been equipped for, and standing firm against it, we succumb. We allow the enemy, who is a thief, a liar, and a destroyer to steal something that is not only precious, but is also POWERFUL.
How often do we find ourselves waiting and longing and feeling far away from God and longing for intimacy, and yet we continue on in the busyness of life, failing to accept the invitation to ‘draw near’ [(1448) to worship God with a pious heart1]?
The instruction to draw near follows these words:
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”v.7
May we no longer let ourselves off the hook with any excuse that steals something so valuable from us.
Decide today that you will “be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15a) because we must.
For us to walk victoriously in these days of confusion and misinformation and to recognize when someone “…advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,…”(1 Tim. 6:3), we must grow in a true knowledge of Him and know the power and Truth of His Word.
May our love abound still more and more
in real knowledge and all discernment,
so that we may approve the things that are excellent,
in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
having been filled with the fruit of righteousness
which comes through Jesus Christ,
to the glory and praise of God.
(from Phil. 1:9-11)
“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to you,
“Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.” Ps. 27:8
He has promised never to leave us (Heb. 13:5 ESV). He is always here. Draw near.
1Zodiates. The Complete Word Study Dictionary.
For more encouragement on this bible reading venture, click here to see how the being in the Word helps us with these 5 important needs.
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