Draw Near Pt. 2

                                       

Last week we looked at James 4:7-8. James tells us that we are able to draw near to God and God will draw near to us. The result is Satan or the Devil will leave us. In all probability James was thinking of Jesus’ temptation with the Devil in the wilderness. Jesus resisted the Devil by relying on the words of His Father. In so doing He was drawing near to Him. In the end the Devil was a miserable failure and he left.

So, when harassed by the Devil, the great deceiver, how do we draw near to God? the beginning point is to be sure you know Him as your savior and Lord from sin and death and not just know about Him. Christianity is a relationship with Jesus before it is a religion; a form of worship.

Pray. This is our life line of communication with the God of all creation. We have been given the privilege of talking and listening directly to God. He waits for us and answers in many ways. Psalm 145:18-19 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him he hears their cry and saves them.

Study the Bible2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. This is God’s love letter to mankind and we should read it over and over again as you would a letter from your sweetheart. As we read, we must also study what it teaches. (Talk a Walk 2/24/21 pilotknob.org. publications, communique).

Worship. An important component of drawing near. Worship is how we live each day honoring God by how we live. Worship also involves praise and music, as music is a powerful medium to be influenced by God. Psalm 8:2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

Obey. We can read, study, memorize, sing all we want, but if we don’t put it into action it is useless to us and others.

Drawing near to God takes effort and discipline but the benefits are well worth it. It may mean setting aside not-so-important activities to make time for God.

Pr. Bob Snitzer                                      

By the Way:     

Today 2:30 Confirmation

Sunday 14, 9:00 Morning Lenten worship. Sermon: Return from Denial

Morning worship services may be viewed on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Pilot-Knob-Lutheran-Church-Forest-City-IA-431071033738650/  and our website at: www.pilotknob.org (Click on sermon at the very top of the page then Sunday’s Sermon  then scroll down to the correct date.  It is viewed through Facebook even if you don’t have an account.)

Offerings/donations can be sent to Angie Lawrence or the donation button on our web page.

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
StumbleUpon

Related Posts

Substitute

John 1:29 . . . “the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.” This is a reference to sacrifice. Jesus became a sacrifice for you and me, our substitute instead of each of us paying for our own sin which is impossible.

All Saints Day

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24

Reformation Sunday

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24

Cowardly

A passage that is often used at funerals is Revelation 21:1-7 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”