Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
As Close as We Choose to Be
You and I are as close to God as we choose to be. Sometimes I look around and I ask myself, how is this person so close to God? It seems like they have a vibrant relationship with the Lord. I have those people in my life, and I'm like, man, I want to be like them.
The reality is, there's a price that they pay to stay close to God. In our Verse of the Day, Paul is teaching on what it means to be reconciled to God. Ephesians chapter 2, verse 13 says, "But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to Him through the blood of Christ."
United With Christ
Paul wants to remind us of this foundational truth: you have been united with Jesus Christ. What does that mean? When we respond to the Gospel, we are now in Jesus Christ. That means when God looks at us, He sees righteousness. Our position as believers is that we are the righteousness of Christ. We're united with Him.
We are in the family of God. We're adopted. We're loved. First Peter chapter 2, verse 9 would tell us that we are God's prized possession. We're in the family of God.
Brought Near
Then Paul says this: "Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to Him through the blood of Christ." He says you used to be far away, and I love that because it reminds me of where I used to be when I didn't know Jesus.
Sometimes it's so healthy to just remind ourselves where we used to be and where we are now, because there's a price that was paid for our sin. Let us never forget that forgiveness was very costly. When Paul says you were brought near to Him through the blood of Christ, he's talking about Jesus going to the cross, absorbing the wrath that you and I deserved, to pay for our sins.
He's saying, because of that, you have been brought near. What does that mean? You and I have access to God. We can approach God with boldness, with courage, knowing that when we draw near to Him, James chapter 4, verse 8 says God will draw near to us. Christianity is not just about saying yes to Jesus, being forgiven of sin and just waiting for Jesus to come back.
Staying Near
It's about having a vibrant relationship with Jesus. It's about staying near. In fact, I believe the key to ministry is not having crazy charisma or style. The key to ministry is falling in love with Jesus every single day. Ask yourself today, what do I need to do not just to draw near, but to stay near? There's a price that we have to pay if we want to stay close to Jesus.
There are some seasons in my life where I don't feel as close to the Lord, and that's okay. My job is to keep drawing near. Maybe you're in that season today where you're like, well, I'm drawing near, and I feel like I'm in a dry place. I want to encourage you and tell you this: that season will come to an end.
Keep drawing near. When you do that, God will draw near to you.
