NEARER

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

 

“Jesus is near…”

 

Such a reassurance huh?

 

A fella I have known for several years, Gene Stinson, took the pulpit yesterday at my home church.  Gene’s story isn’t very dissimilar to mine when it comes to his “denominational” journey.

 

In fact, many of the things that Gene shared with the folks at AHOP regarding his upbringing, things like the “moral scorecard” and the “LORD’s balance sheet” sounded scarily familiar.  I won’t go any further with that and sorry to be a little vague, but if you grew up like we did you know exactly what I am talking about.

 

But enough of that.

 

It was what Gene shared that is important today and Gene pulled a very familiar passage to open his talk.

the Lord is coming soon. – Philippians 4 

Yet translated from the GREEK, this passage says, “JESUS is NEAR”.

 

And Gene did a wonderful job interjecting a touching personal story from his life when the “NEARNESS of JESUS” changed EVERYTHING for him, a time when GOD Himself enveloped Him in a real, timely and tangible way.

 

But I thought what a fitting phrase to open a week.

 

JESUS is NEAR!

He is!!!

 

I love what the Psalmist observed!

I’m in the very presence of God—oh, how refreshing it is!

Psalms 73:37 (MSG) 

WE ARE!

Friends, Jesus is VERY NEAR!

 

As the old hymn says…

Troubled soul, the Savior can see

Every heartache and tear

Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary

Jesus is very near!

 

And Jesus wants to get “nearer”.  He does!

The question is do we?

 

Thomas Aquinas said:

See to whom Jesus is drawing near, three kinds of people: to those who make peace with him, to those who are devoted to God, and to those who are kind to their neighbors.

 

So, do want to experience a different or an INCREASED level of NEARNESS today?

 

Make peace with Him and others today.

Enhance your devotion to Him.

Be kind to those around you.

 

The LORD will be IN and NEAR ALL OF THAT…

Remember…

Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. – James 4:8 (TPT)

 

Jesus is most certainly near.

Let’s get nearer!

 

 

I love you all!

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE