The Nearness of God

“For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?”

Moses preached this to the Children of Israel right before they were to enter the Promised Land in Deuteronomy 4:7. We studied this passage this past Sunday, and I would like to reflect on it today.

One of the things I love most about being a Christian is the nearness of God. There are three major ways in which God is near to us:

1)   God the Father is near to us through God the Son, Jesus Christ. When Jesus showed up as a baby, Matthew quoted the prophecy in Isaiah that tells us his name was to be called Immanuel – God with us. While other religions present a distant and unknowable deity, our faith presents to us a personal relationship with God through His son Jesus Christ. That makes true Christianity all about a relationship and not religion.

2)    God the Father is near to us through God the Spirit. When we accept Christ, God the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. Our bodies become a temple of the Holy Spirit and we are sealed with him until the day of redemption – when God brings us to heaven. The Holy Spirit is our guide who comes alongside us and teaches us the truth. When we reflect on the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we must ask the question Moses asks – is there anyone who “has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us?”

3)    God the Father is near to us through His Word the Bible. When we read the Bible, we get to have communion and fellowship with our creator. The one who designed us is able to instruct us audibly as we hear the Word of God. Through prayer and Bible reading, we have 24 hours a day 7 days a week access to God. What joyful excitement flows from spending time with God!

As we are still in the beginning month of this year, let’s commit ourselves to getting the right priorities in place and draw near unto God as he promises to draw near unto us!

-          Bro. Dave