In week two of Close we are going to be talking about what gets in the way of us becoming close to God.
SCRIPTURE:
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” Romans 5:1-2 (NIV)
CLOSE – Week 2
Sometimes we have a desire to move closer to God, but come up against a barrier—something that just blocks us from getting close. Sometimes that barrier just holds us back. It’s like hitting a brick wall. Barriers can be our bad decisions, our fear, or even simple distractions that get in the way of us moving closer to God. We can face different barriers in different seasons of life. Whatever those barriers are, what do we do? How do we get past them? In Romans, Paul says:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand (Romans 5:1-2 NIV).
Paul is saying that because of Jesus, we can have peace with God. Jesus removed the barrier between God and us. We don’t need to have fear when it comes to admitting the barriers that we’ve put up, because, thanks to Jesus, we have peace with God! We stand in grace. We can freely admit our poor choices, our fear, and our distractions, without worrying that God will stop loving us, or choose to abandon us. God’s heart is that we move close to Him, and because of grace through Jesus, we can remove our barriers.
God wants to be close to you. Tell God what those barriers are that are keeping you from Him, and ask for forgiveness. Talk to God about it. Thank Him for His kindness that leads you to getting things right with Him. Every day you have the opportunity to make things right, to be close to Him.
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