DRAW NIGH TO GOD .

EVENING DEVOTION my James Smith 

MARCH 13

 

James 4:8

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your

hearts, ye double minded.

 
Sin thrusts us to an infinite distance from God, and unbelief keeps us there.
 
Grace brings us back, and brings us nigh by the blood of the cross.
 
When we sin we still wander from God, but real prayer is drawing nigh to God.
 
He is on the throne of Grace,
  Jesus our intercessor is before the throne,
  and we are invited to draw nigh.
 
We are to come up to the throne,
  to realize God as present,
   to exercise confidence in him,
     through Jesus, and
       to pour out our hearts before him.
 
To tell him all- all we fear, all we desire, all we want.
 
To praise him for all we possess, or
    have received in the past, or
       expect in time to come.
 
We are to be frank, there is to be no reserve.
 
We are to be serious, there must be no lightness.
 
We are to be fully assured that our God is love,
  there is to be no dread or alarm.
 
Draw nigh to God,
   to ascertain his will,
      to enjoy his love,
        to unburden your mind,
          to engage him afresh on your side, and
            that you may rise above the present cheerless world.
 
“He will draw nigh to you.”
 
What an inducement is this!
 
Draw nigh and unveil his glories.
 
Draw nigh and dissipate your fears.
 
 

Let us now approach thy throne

Through the living way made known.

Way of faith which Jesus made,

Through the veil of flesh display’d;

Through his rent humanity,

God our Friend in heaven, we see.

 
James Smith