Tuesday, April 26th, 2022

We all can feel distant from God at times in our lives. The Apostle James tells us, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” That is a promise, but it hinges on us drawing near to God. So how do we come near to God? The Apostles offer various manners in which to approach God and assurances of acceptance when we come in the name of Jesus Christ. But practically, what do we do – I mean physically do -- to feel close to God again? Jesus in Revelation addressed the Church of Ephesus, who he commended for their perseverance, intolerance of wickedness and sin, and endurance of hardship in his name. But, he continues by saying, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” Do you remember the first days after coming to faith, receiving salvation in the name of Jesus Christ? I do, and it was a time of incredible passion, drive, and belief. It was also a time of child-like wonder – I came to faith before I understood almost anything about the character of God and His ways. Like many, I just knew that I wanted Jesus as the Lord of my life and I would spend the rest of my life bringing glory to him. Then, it began in me a process of repentance, turning me away from that which was not worshipful in my life. Therein lies the secret in what to do when we feel distant from God! Do the things that you did at first – seek God with child-like wonder, jump for joy and praise for being saved, share your newfound peace with the world, and turn from the things in our lives that are not glorifying to God. When we live each day like we have just been snatched away from the fires of hell, we will draw closer and closer to God. Today, do the things you did at first. If you haven’t experienced this kind of joy, peace, and new life, accept Jesus as the Lord of your life today.

If you’ve made a decision for Christ, or have questions, and are looking for someone to pray with you, please feel free to email me at elevateddiscourse@gmail.com. I’d love to pray with you.

“Come near to God and He will come near to you.” – James 4:8 NIV

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” – Revelation 2:4-5 NIV