Invitation to Draw Near Brings Opportunity to be Near
Our invitation to Draw Near
Over the years, I have always enjoyed an invitation to get together with someone for coffee or a meal. When someone takes the time to think about me and calls to get together, it means a lot. Sometimes those occasions were prompted out of gratitude, to thank me for something I had done. Sometimes an old friend or acquaintance was passing through town and wanted to meet to catch up. In our busy lives, and knowing others around us are busy, it’s easy to think we are on our own, that no one is thinking about us or cares how we are doing. When someone calls us to get together, we are reminded that others care about us and are thinking of us.
I remember one occasion when I called a friend I had known in college and hadn’t seen for years, to see him. We ran track and cross-country, and we studied the Bible together. I wanted to see how he was doing in his Christian faith and was even curious if he looked the same. (not having seen him for over 30 years)
He looked just like he did when we ran track together, and it was good to see him. We don’t necessarily use the phrase “draw near,” but that was what we did. We talked and shared how we were each doing. We caught up on our families and on what God had done in our lives over the past 30-plus years. It was good to get together, to draw near.
In the New Testament letter to the Hebrews and in James’ letter, we are invited to draw near to God. He wants us to draw near to Him, to share our hearts with Him, and let Him share His heart and desires with us. This is more than getting acquainted or catching up, though; drawing near to God reflects the deepest and most important relationship we can have.
To understand God’s heart in inviting us to draw near in Hebrews 4:16, look at verses 14-16.
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
It’s important to remember that the Hebrew people could approach God only through a representative, such as a priest or a prophet. When Christ came, He became not just the one to give us access to God, but being God Himself, we can approach and draw near to God in Christ Jesus.
In this letter to the Hebrews, the author builds an argument that Christ is superior to the Old Testament prophets, angels, and all other messengers, as well as to the Old Testament sacrifices, which were only temporary coverings for our sins. His sacrifice was “once for all when He offered up Himself.” (Hebrews 7:27)
Earlier, at the end of chapter 2, we read how Christ “had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”
We are invited to draw near to the one who died in our place and purchased our salvation. We are also invited to draw near to Christ to receive His grace and mercy, for He understands us and has shown us great kindness and compassion.
The author of Hebrews again invites us to draw near in 7:25:
“Therefore, He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
To give us further confidence to draw near, knowing from Christ we receive His mercy and grace, the author again invites us to draw near in Hebrews 10:21 and 22:
“And since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
I remember two other times I was invited to a meeting with someone. The first was when I was in fourth or fifth grade, and my school teacher pulled me out of class and told me that the principal wanted to meet with me. This was not a good meeting. Apparently, during a school open house, one of the classes I had visited with a friend had a math problem written on a chalkboard. My friend said to me, “Let’s have some fun and try to answer that math problem, and then we can erase it and write some more math fun stuff on the chalkboard. I found out from the principal that we weren’t supposed to write on that chalkboard, and the teacher was very upset. There was no mercy and no grace. We were both banned from any playground time for the next couple of months. That was not a good “drawing near.”
The second invite I wanted to mention was when the chairman of the Christian Education major at Dallas Seminary invited me to meet with him in his office. Now, Howard Hendricks was a well-known Christian Education leader and a very good teacher and example. When I showed up at his office, he made me feel very welcome. After a few initial questions to better get acquainted, he just wanted to encourage me in my ministry training and to know how he could pray for me and be an encouragement to me. There was much mercy and grace.
Now, when I think of Christ inviting me to draw near, He is asking to spend time with me. He desires to be merciful and gracious. He is compassionate and kind. He created me, and He knows me inside and out. (Reflect on Psalm 139) What an opportunity to get to know Him better and to hear His heart.
When I meet with someone who has invited me to share a cup of coffee. I listen to them. I let them share what’s on their heart. I do this with Christ as I read His word and think carefully about what I am reading. Some good places to begin are John and the other gospels, as well as Acts, which are narratives of the life of Christ and the early church. Also, some of the letters from Paul, Peter, John, or James are designed to teach me how to live in this new relationship with Christ.
Psalms and Proverbs are also good places to begin. Often, when reading a Psalm, I use that Psalm as an example to pray to God. It might be to thank Him, or it might show me how to ask for His help. The main point here is that God’s Word teaches me to listen to Him and to talk with Him. My suggestion today is:
- Decide on one of the gospels to begin to read.
- Read one chapter each day. Pick a time when you are fresh and thinking clearly.
- Write down in your calendar or journal one thing God showed you about Himself in that chapter.
- Write down a short prayer of thanks.
For further posts on “Let’s Grow in our Faith,” visit https//:stanjohnsonwriting.com
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