Thought of the Day September 13, 2019 Draw near to God
Jesus says, “He who does not gather with me, scatters” (Luke 11:23). Unfortunately, this image
of scattering or being hindered describes many of us whose lives are not
ordered on the one thing necessary, who are not single-hearted, whose hearts
are not focused on the one thing they should be. We are like the young rich man
in the Gospel who heard Jesus tell him: “There is one thing that is missing in
your life.” Because of so many distractions within him he couldn’t respond to
Jesus. Like him, our lives are often scattered, confused, disordered, and
filled with a jumble of conflicting drives that hinder them from the true goal
of life.
“The double
minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8)
Further,
James says: “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands,
you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind” (James 4:8). When
we draw near to God, our hearts become further cleansed and purified from the
dross that hinders us. Unless we have
total allegiance to God, giving our heart to him exclusively, we will be like
the husband who has a mistress besides his wife. This was the sin of Israel for
which God chastised them. Through Hosea the prophet God tells Israel that you
are like a harlot to me, your husband. I will lure you into the desert where I
will purify and cleanse you. Then I will bring you back to me and wed you to
myself as if you were a virgin bride.
Do we want our heart to be pure and focused on the Lord? What is hindering it? What can and will we do about it?
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