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DRAW NEAR

by ROBIN BOSCH  
7/18/2015 / Devotionals

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they hid themselves. God called out, "Adam! Where are you? 1a

Ever since that time, mankind has had a propensity to hide from God.1b The sin factor being a major factor preventing full fellowship with Him. The Old Covenant (Law of Moses) magnified this. The fact was, 'Paradise' was lost in the Garden and mankind died spiritually and the whole of creation experienced a huge change.2

However when the fullness of time came, Christ reconciled us to God the Father.3 When He died, the veil in the Temple was rent from top to bottom, 4 allowing us unhindered access to the throne of grace. 5

Under the new dispensation of Grace (New Covenant), Jesus encourages us to draw close to Him.6 He said, "Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." 7 This assurance causes us to worship Him with a thankful heart.8
His heart pulsates and radiates such love, gathering us like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.9 He desires to enjoy the fruits of His sacrifice, which are those he died for; that's you and me.

Jesus says, "Come and dine, 10 with no reservations or hesitancy."
"Come and drink the water of Life freely, anytime, anyplace."11

Jesus, in essence desires that we draw near to Him so that He can restore our souls.12 He wants us to plug into the heavenly power source which flows from His throne.13 The moment we respond, His heart is satisfied and contented; His rescue mission on earth was not in vain.14

God has befriended us. But as scripture says, "A man who has friends must show himself friendly."15
Someone also said and I quote, "Jesus is a friend who walks in when the world has walked out."
So we should respond to His friendship. When we do, He rewards us and makes us sons and daughters. 16 Don't you think that's awesome?

He bids us come, beckoning and gesticulating to us with passionate zeal. I imagine Jesus standing on a hill, waving His arms frantically saying, "Here I am, this way my son, my daughter - I am The Way."17

His constant plea is for us to draw near with a true heart 18. It's an open invitation, with no exclusions. His love; so endearing, so magnetic, so compelling, draws us with bands and cords. 19
Hanging on the Cross, pain wracked arms outstretched, embraced our greatest need, fulfilled out deepest longing, far surpassing anything. 20

His outstretched arms are indicative of His Divine nature; encouraging, accepting. An embrace; enlarged, bursting with anticipation; waiting, eager for our response. His outstretched arms indicating the direction; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our sins from us.21

Christ death on the Cross was an enormous demonstration of sacrificial love; God in human form placed Himself on the altar. 22 He became the burnt offering and the sin offering.23 He broke down the partition that prevented us from approaching Him, saying, "Your sins and iniquities I will remember no more." 24

The devil would have us believe otherwise and muddies the waters. That's his nature; a spoiler, a liar, a deceiver, intent on masking the truth. Pointing accusing fingers at us saying, "You? You can't approach God, just look at you! You are so unworthy and soiled."25 But Scripture says," Worthy is the Lamb."26 Christ is worthy, so are we, in Him.27 (Read: Zec.3:1 to 4)
Greater love has no man than this, that He should give his life for his friends.28 Holding nothing back Jesus emptied His life Blood so that we might possess Life, abundant Life and constant fellowship with Him.29

I ask myself, "What more could Jesus have done?" Nothing! His mission was perfect and complete and now He holds out the olive branch saying, "Peace I give to you, not as the world gives it; 30 I am the Prince of Peace."31

Let us draw near with absolute assurance 32 of His total and complete acceptance of us.33 When we acknowledge him and accept His sacrifice as the only remedy for our sin separating us from God, we enter into eternal fellowship with him. For where He is, we are. 34

The only condition is that we accept His friendship, His sacrifice, His Lordship and Salvation. Bowing our knees in total surrender to all He accomplished on the Cross. 35

This condition is not a command but a loving invitation from a loving God, who will not force His will on us. Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20 KJV)

Hear Him say:
"Come my child, receive my Life, everything else pales in comparison. Be reconciled to me."36
"Don't feel alienated; don't stand in the cold corridors of the world; come into the spacious room of my good intentions.37 Come warm yourself around the fire of my love."
Amen.

Scripture References.
1a.) Gen. 3:9 1b.) Gen.3:8 2) Rom.5:14; Rom.5:17; Rom.8:22
3) 2Cor.5:18; Col.1:21; Eph.2:16
4) Matt.27:51 5) Heb.4:16
6) Ps.73:28 7) Matt.11:28
8) Col.3:15; Ps.100:4 9) Lu.13:34 10) Jn.21:12
11) Rev.21:6 12) Ps.23:3
13) Rev.5:13; Rom.15:13; Jn.1:12 14) Ga.2:21; 2Cor.6:1
15) Prov.18:24 16) 2Cor.6:18; Jn.1:12;
17) Jn.14:6 18) Heb.10:22
19) Hos.11:4 20) Col.1:2
21) Ps.103:12 22) Ja.2:21
23) Heb.10:8 24) Heb.8:12; Heb.10:17; Jer.31:34
25) Read: Zec.3:1-4
26) Rev.5:12 27) 2Cor.5:21; 1Jn.4:16
28) Jn.15:13 29) 1Cor.1:9
30) Jn.14:27 31) Is.9:36
32) Heb.10:22 33) Eph.1:6
34) Eph.2:6; Col.2:12 35) Eph.3:14
36) 2Cor.5:20; 37) Jer.29:11

I have been a believer in Christ for many years. It has only been in the last three or four years that I have received greater insight into the Grace of God. This has injected me with energy to tell others about the blessed "rest" we have in Christ. Grace is not a theology but is a Person-- Jesus.

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