How close do you feel to God? How close do you feel He is to you?
The way you feel about God is paramount to your relationship with Him. It affects your confidence that He is there to help you, and your trust that He will deliver you out of your afflictions and help you through your mistakes, problems and difficulties (Psalm 34:19). Do you see that He is not there just to sit in judgment of you? He loves you and will be there for you (1 John 4:8-11) to bring you to the point of birth into His family as a child of God.
All that we know, all that we see around us, and all that we have or hope for comes from God's graciousness. God's creation of this physical universe set the stage for God's plan and purpose for mankind. It is a gift of God. Even our life and breath is a gift of God. The apostle John writes: "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:1-3).
Jesus said, "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20). Again He said, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him" (John 14:23).
Our part is to want to be like God and to love Him and His ways, and embrace His biblical instructions, thereby walking in His ways--the ways of His family. Just as a boy wants to be like his father, we will want to be like our heavenly Father. Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).
God is more willing to give us of His spiritual things when we ask than we are of giving our children bread when they ask (Matthew 7:9-11). True righteousness comes from having the Spirit of God in us which is not normal to the flesh. God's Spirit leads us in genuine, outgoing love and concern for others apart from self interest. It prepares us for the way we hope to live eternally. We must draw near to God and He will draw near to us (James 4:8).
How do we draw near to God?
David, a man after God's own heart, meditated always on Gods laws, statutes and precepts with their instructions and guidance in righteousness. He loved God's spiritual laws of life. They are far above other laws, because they are the laws governing the way to live purposefully and joyfully for eternity. David prayed, "I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word" (Psalm 119:15-16).
David also said in Psalm 23, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil [symbolic of the Holy Spirit]; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
Do you feel that way about God? Are you that close to Him? Do you want to be that close to Him? Do you love God and want Him for your shepherd?
If so, as Jesus said, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor [the same as] yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40).
How can we love God if we only think of Him as one who is watching us to catch us sinning in order to punish us? God is giving and forgiving. When we live in sin, it actually does injustice to both God, neighbor and ourselves. As a loving Father, He corrects in order to save us from destruction because death, the result of sin, keeps us out of His family and kingdom. When we repent, He is quick to forgive.
We love God because He first loved us. He has created the whole universe for us. He made us in His image (Genesis 1:26-28) so we can become just like Him.
When He calls us He grants us repentance of sin. His Son died for us so that we may be reconciled to Him. He gives us His Holy Spirit in order that we receive the kind of love by which we turn away from selfishness and truly love Him and neighbor. As we repent of old carnal ways, He helps us grow in godly character. He that grows, bears fruit and overcomes to the end shall be saved. Thus He calls us and invites us to become His own precious sons and daughters.
We reciprocate as we become God's obedient loving children, growing in His family character--children in whom He is well pleased.
God said, "'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The LORD is my helper; I will not fear'" (Hebrews 13:5-6).
So you see, God's love for you is not just a sentimental thing, nor is He a harsh master as He is so often pictured. His love bears deep concern for your very best eternal welfare and His gifts are precious beyond anything men can imagine.
As your Father, He wants you to succeed. His gift of the Holy Spirit allows you to grow in the same kind of love that He has for you--deep unselfish love for Him and your neighbor. You can be as close to God as you want, and He will draw close to you as you draw close to Him.
