Skip to main content

James 4:8: Draw Near To God, And He Will Draw Near To You


James 4:8
[8] Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (ESV)

Have you ever considered what a great invitation you have received that you should be able to come and have a relationship with the God of the universe? So often we never take a proper pause to think of the awe and wonder that should appropriately accompany our approach to God. The Psalmist said, "What is man that you are mindful of him?" (Psalm 8:4).

We are invited to draw near to God with the promise that if we do, he will draw near to us. Have you ever considered the right approach to come to God? Do you have to wear special clothing? In the Old Testament the priest would be able to approach God, and there were all kinds of requirements, including what they were to wear.

We do not need special clothing. However, we are given instruction on how we should approach God We are to have clean hands and pure hearts. The Old Testament priests would ceremonially clean their hands. This cleaning of the hands symbolizes a purification of the sins done in our bodies. We must come to the Lord, renouncing sin.

In addition to the clean hands, or renouncing sin, we are to have pure hearts. Now, this is an interesting requirement because we cannot be pure without God cleansing us through Christ. So we must come to him, asking him to purify us so that we can have that intimate relationship with him. Do not try to cleanse yourself. Only Christ's blood is strong enough to cleanse sin.

It is a privilege beyond compare that we can come to God and have relationship. Take it seriously and soberly. Come to him humbly, renouncing sin, and asking for his cleansing your impurity.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,
2 comments
Read more

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu
6 comments
Read more

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co
Post a Comment
Read more