Christ, the Nearness of God: by Andrew Murray

 

Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh unto you. James 4:8

It has been said that the holiness of God is the union of God’s infinite distance from sinful man with His infinite nearness to man in His redeeming grace. Faith must always seek to realize both the distance and the nearness.

In Christ, God has come near, so very near to man, and now the command comes: if you want to have God come still nearer, you must draw near to Him. The promised nearness of Christ Jesus expressed in the promise, 

“Lo, I am with you alway[s]” (Matthew 28:20),

can only be experienced as we draw near to Him.

This means, first of all, that we must yield ourselves afresh at the beginning of each day for His holy presence to rest upon us. It means a voluntary, intentional, and wholehearted turning away from the world to wait on God to make Himself known to our souls. It means giving time, and all our hearts and strength, to allow Him to reveal Himself. It is impossible to expect the abiding pres­ence of Christ with us throughout the day unless there is a definite daily exercise of strong desire and childlike trust in His word: 

“Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.”

Furthermore, this means the simple, childlike offering of ourselves and our lives in everything, in order to do His will alone and to seek above everything to please Him. His promise is sure: 

“If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him” (John 14:23).

Then comes the quiet assurance of faith, even if there is not much feeling or sense of His presence, that God is with us and that He will watch over us and keep us as we go out to do His will. Moreover, He will strengthen us “in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16) with divine strength for the work we have to do for Him.

Child of God, let these words come to you with a new meaning each morning: 

“Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” Wait patiently, and He will speak in divine power: “Lo, I am with you alway[s].”