Thursday, February 11, 2010

Drawing closer

I finished lunch just a few hours ago. I'm not sure what it was that I ate but something has me thirsty, really thirsty. I'm craving some of that bottled water from the refrigerator here in the office. So, I kind of laughed when I read the following passage in my Bible just a few seconds ago:

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 NIV

I asked myself, "Is this really the way we approach God?" I mean, is my desire for Him one of want...or genuine need. I worry that most Christ followers, especially the American variety, live our lives as practical deists. We believe in God and even believe that He created the world. However, when it comes to our day-to-day existence, we live as if He has no desire nor interest to be close to us or involved with us.

Or maybe we'd rather that He not be.

Let's be honest. Having a God that's holy and pure involved in our lives every day could be a little scary, a little intimidating...a little transforming. And that's exactly why God says He wants us to draw close. He wants to transform us. God's presence in our lives isn't meant to be a deterrent to evil (although it does that very thing), rather it's meant to be a bridge to hope and purpose and love.

The promise of Scripture is that drawing close to God drives out fear, brings us security and changes who we are all the way down to our core. That kind of "close" only comes through intentional seeking though. It doesn't happen by chance and it doesn't happen in one hour on a weekend. It's through a daily desire--no, it's an hourly one--to find our satisfaction in Him. Just like with my thirst, there is only one thing that will really make a difference. If you've ever been thristy, you know what I mean.

In Proverbs 8:17, God says, "I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me."

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