Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Hebrews 11: 6 (ESV)“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”
Luke 2: 10-11 (NKJV)“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”
Psalm 145: 18 (NKJV)
We had just finished our visit to worship years ago at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, in St. Petersburg, Florida. As Lynda and I were leaving, we looked back and saw that our young son, Nathan, age five, had stopped at the end of the pew.
We watched as he knelt on one knee facing the Crucifix—the Catholic symbol of Christ on the cross—which was hanging above the altar area in the front of the church. Then we watched as he made the sign of the cross reverently upon his head and shoulders. “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen,” were the words we were certain we could hear whispered from the lips of our precious kneeling boy.
Nathan had probably seen me “genuflect” as I left the pew just before him, and, as little boys will do, he copied his daddy’s display of respect for Christ, which I learned during my childhood, raised in the Catholic Church, and Catholic School in New York.
I was pretty sure Nathan didn’t know why he should do that, and so, as he sat in the front seat of the car with us heading home, I mentioned that his Mom and I had noticed him kneel and cross himself as he left the church pew a few minutes earlier, and wondered why he did that?
Well, he asked, “When you do that, Daddy, do you get closer to God?”
His question had a knowing assurance of what the answer should be. Embracing his question and anticipating his next words with a bit of excitement, I told him that I suppose you certainly could feel closer to God in that moment kneeling and bowing your head to the figure of Jesus Christ on the crucifix.
“Well then,” he smiled, “I just wanted to be closer to God.”
It was clear to me right then who was closer to understanding what it was all about; and I’ll let you in on a little secret—it wasn’t me.
Following many years of searching, I did finally learn what it was all about in an early morning visitation by God in the mountains of North Carolina, when the Angel’s words to the shepherds from so long ago, drew me to Him and changed my life—
“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”
We’re coming out of the season of Advent, and Christmas, where we paused to celebrate God drawing near to us when He sent His Son to earth.
The most incredible act of love. Drawing nearer to us.
So we would draw nearer to Him.
To that place which is the very best there is—with Him. Safe. Affirming. Exciting. Lifting. Hope-filled, with the promise of eternity with Him.
In our periods of difficulty and darkness, relationship setbacks, failures and heartaches suffered, financial uncertainty looming before us, God’s Son has been, is still, and will always be there drawing closer to us.
And He invites us to draw closer to Him. Not to programs, buildings, rules, regulations, requirements, but instead—as our young son shared those many years ago—closer to Him.
Closer to the rescuing, healing, empowering, lasting, and saving eternal love that came into this world over two-thousand years ago.
Closer to that love which always draws us close, is always near, never lets us go, and is all we will ever need.
Closer to our Friend, our Savior, and our Lord.
“Well then, I just wanted to be closer to God.”
Amen and Amen!
In His Name–Scott
Be lifted by Michael W. Smith as he shares his heart of drawing closer to His God, in this beautiful performance of “Draw Me Close.”
