Draw Near to God and Keep Going
December 8, 2024 · 1:58:52 · Watch on YouTube ↗
Summary
The service opened with the reminder from Matthew that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us, and the first message asked a searching question: how do believers drift away from God, and how do we come close to Him again? Drawing on Psalm 34, James 4 and Psalm 73, the preacher reminded the church that nearness to God is the sweetest thing in life, and that a life lived far from Him loses all meaning.
He described three ways God's own people slip away - open rejection of His word and gatherings, the hypocrisy of honoring God with the lips while the heart stays far off, and a careless, lazy attitude toward our great salvation that leaves us exposed, like the stragglers in the wilderness who were cut down by Amalek. The way back is a broken and humble heart, thanksgiving, calling on the name of the Lord, and abiding in Christ, who alone is our Mediator and gives us confident access to the Father.
A second message urged the church to keep going. From Elisha telling King Joash to strike the ground again, to Saul who could not wait the full seven days, the call was to persevere - keep believing, keep loving even enemies, keep giving, and keep your lamp burning, because the Lord is faithful and will surely come. Through a personal testimony of heart surgery and the love of Christ who restored Peter, the church was encouraged not to look back but to press on toward Him.
Key Points
- Nearness to God is better than life itself; drifting from Him drains life of meaning
- Believers can fall away openly, through hypocrisy, or through quiet carelessness toward salvation
- A broken, humble heart and calling on the Lord's name draw us close to Him
- Christ alone is our Mediator, giving us confident access to the Father
- Loving the things of this world pulls us away from God's presence
- Keep going: persevere in faith, love, giving, and patient waiting, for the Lord is coming
- Do not look back; let past failures become experience that matures you
Devotional
Ask yourself honestly today whether you are moving toward God or quietly drifting from Him. He is never far away; the moment your heart breaks before Him and you call on His name, He draws near to you. Do not let the busyness of the season, old wounds, or the love of small comforts pull your eyes off Christ. Keep going, keep believing, keep loving even those who have hurt you, and keep your lamp burning, for the One who came as Immanuel is faithful and is coming again.
“When we draw near to God, we draw near to His warmth, His love, and His presence.”
“Keep going - do not stop fighting, do not stop believing, do not stop loving.”
“A broken and humble heart is the first sign that we are close to God.”
