September 06, 2019
There are certain things God plans to do that are not conditioned upon any response from man. Steps He plans to take regardless of our responses. But there are many things that He promises to us that are completely conditional.
One of these is seeing and experiencing Him in increasing intimacy. Consider both an Old Testament and New Testament instruction:
Both of these verses (and many more) remind us that God will not reveal Himself in greater intimacy to a man who is not interested. To someone who will not pay the price of holiness. This in no way implies that we can earn an audience with God by our works. We come into His presence (which we can do) because we have an introduction, through Christ Jesus, into this “grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1).
But, we must COME. Those who see Him most clearly and deeply are those who long for Him; who pursue Him; who listen to His instructions for their lives and, by His grace and through the power of His indwelling Spirit, are cooperating with Him.
Why would God continue to reveal Himself to a man who has no interest? Who will not seek for Him while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near?
IF YOU SENSE
… that you are distant from God, He is not the One who has moved. And the instructions of the Scripture are clear to us on the action that must be taken: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to You” (James 4:8).
Pay attention to holiness. Be intentional about all He has already said to you. Set aside deliberate time to fast, pray, and read and meditate on His Word. Be extremely careful about your obedience.
And then, cry out to Him for greater intimacy. For as clear as His conditions are for you to see Him, they are clearly promised! He desires to reveal Himself to you more than you are aware for He is a God of perfect love towards you. It is hard for our finite minds to grasp, but He longs for intimacy with those He created, and that includes you. He made you to walk with Him in the coolness of the day. It is only our prideful independence and willful disobedience that is aborting this intimacy.
Live with this awareness as you tend to your holiness and pursue His presence:
“The place upon Jesus’ breast is still vacant and open to all those who will pay the price of increasing intimacy with Him. We are now and we will be in the future only as close to Christ as we really chose to be.” (“Enjoying Intimacy with God,” J. Oswald Sanders)
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