Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:8 (NIV)
Come Near
Here is an interesting trivia question for you – other than the United States, what countries are nearest to Canada? The answer might surprise you. The two countries are France and Greenland. St. Pierre and Miquelon, islands off the coast of Newfoundland, are politically a territory of France. Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark. Although St. Pierre and Miquelon, and Greenland are geographically a part of the North American continent, they have been politically and culturally associated with Europe for about a millennium.
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One of the unique aspects of the Christian faith is that the God of the Bible longs to be in fellowship with His creation. The beginning of the Bible records this – God walked daily with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When sin destroyed that perfect relationship, God immediately set into motion His plan to redeem men and women and so be able to draw them back to Himself. That plan reached its apex in Jesus Christ, by whose death and resurrection sin can be forgiven, guilt lifted and our relationship with our Creator restored. That is why the apostle James was able to write, in James 4:8: “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” In our sin, we are not naturally drawn toward God. In fact, either out of fear, pride, or apathy, we have no interest in seeking God. But the Holy Spirit is at work, drawing us to Jesus. When we respond to His prompting, becoming aware of our sin and need for a Saviour, Jesus draws close to us. Reach out in faith to Him today.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley