YE ARE MADE NIGH BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.

 

JANUARY 26
Ye are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:13
 

Distance from God is the consequences of sin, and
  to the believer it is the cause of trouble and distressed.
 
We were all banished far from God once;
  nor could we ever have been brought nigh unto him,
  if Jesus had not become our Substitute, and
  satisfied the law on our behalf.
 
The blood of Jesus removes every obstacle out of
  the way of our approaching to God,
  it secures us an honorable reception by God.
 
We never could have known
 the blessedness of nearness to God,
  if Jesus had not left his Father's bosom,
    obeyed the law in our nature,
      and died in our stead.
 
He is the only way to God.
 
By him both Jews and Gentiles have access 

  by one Spirit unto the Father.
 
He stands between God and the sinner,
  and lays his hands on both:
   he brings God down to us,
   and he leads us up to God.
 
There is nothing between us and God now,
  but Jesus.
 
He made peace, and he keeps fees.
 
We are reconciled to God,
  and God is at peace with us.
 
He is nigh unto us, and
  loves us to be nigh unto him.
 
O to realize that God has accepted us in Jesus,
  and that he is near to us in every place!
 

Jesus, the Savior, shed his blood,

To bring the guilty nigh to God,

‘Tis here I find relief from sin,

A balm to make my conscience clean.

 
 
James Smith 1849