May 2 – Near and Far

 Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away?  Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 23: 23-24 (ESV)

We all are likely to have times in our life of faith that God seems distant when He is always right beside us. God is always in the process of revealing to us what He is like. In today’s verses there are three questions that we believe are intended to help us know better how God is involved in our lives.  As we read the verses we can see that the last question actually contains the answer to the first two. God asks, “Am I only a God that is nearby and not a God that is far away?” Well He is both and all thing time for God is everywhere. He fills heaven and earth. He fills all of His creation. He wants us all to know this because it reveals what a wonderful and caring God He is. There is nowhere that God is not and so no matter where we are, near or far, he is there with us. He is drawing us near to Him and as He is with us today, He is and will be with us tomorrow and forever – He fills our world and beyond.

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August 30 – Access Is For All

“And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.  For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”  Ephesians 2:17-18 – (ESV)

This verse reminds us that Jesus has made a way for all people to be brought together.  At the time He lived on Earth, the significant division for Jews were the non-Jews or Gentiles.  We confidently say today that people of all kind have been brought together into the family of God.  Our promise today that we focus on is what the verse says about our access to God the Father. This is through Jesus Christ the Son and in the Holy Spirit.  When we go to God in prayer we are aware that we do so in the name of Jesus.  The Bible promises us that God will hear us and our promise today says specifically that we have access to the Father by the Son who has brought all people together. Again we emphasis this is without respect to ethnicity, race, sex, age or any other distinction that humans make.  Racism and supremacy have no place in God's plan.  Access is offered to all in one Spirit to the Father through the Son.

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April 6 – Brought Near

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13 (ESV)

Just a week has passed since we were thinking especially of the death of Jesus on the cross. It is a theme that carries throughout the New Testament and we are reminded often of the importance of that event and sacrificial act by Jesus. We know that Jesus came and He died because God loved us and because He wanted us to be drawn close to Him. When we accept what Jesus did for us on the cross we are brought into the family of God.  The experience of being brought near to God begins when we believe in Jesus but it continues on through our lives.  We can experience the blessing of nearness to God every day. When we sense that nearness today lets thank God again for what Jesus had done and is doing and let us thank Him for making the way possible for us to become members of God's eternal family. 

May 2 – Near and Far

“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 23: 23-24 (NIV)

God is always in the process of revealing to us what He is like. There are three questions in today's verses that we believe are intended to help us know God better.  As we read the verses we can see that the last question actually contains the answer to the first two. “Am I only a God that is nearby and not a God that is far away?” No, God is everywhere. He fills heaven and earth. He fills all of His creation. He wants us all to know this because it reveals what a wonderful God He is. There is nowhere that God is not and so no matter where we are, near or far, he is there with us. He is drawing us near to Him and as He is with us today, He is and will be with us tomorrow and forever – He fills our world and beyond.

March 13 - Drawn Us Near

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13 (NIV)

We have in our verse today words which remind us of the great desire of God for His creatures to be near to him. God has made us because he wants us to have a close relationship with Him. Sin separated us and drove us far away from God. He sent His Son to this world because He loved the human race – His creation and wanted to bring them to Himself. Our verse reminds us that in Christ we have been brought near to our loving creator because Christ shed His blood for us. We need to remember that we are not living by ourselves apart from God. He has drawn us close to Himself. Just as the Ephesians who first received these words, we were once far away but God drew them to Himself, He has drawn us near to Him through the work of Christ on the Cross and His resurrection.