Let Us Draw Near...Together
Have you ever thought about why most gym memberships are begun in the month of January? Is it because we feel like we've been so self indulgent during the holidays that it's time to buckle down and renew some sense of self-discipline? After all, if we lived the way we tend to live during the holidays we'd all be pretty unhealthy. If you're like me you would, anyway! Those candied pecans may actually be "to die for"!
I feel that way about my nearness to Christ too. I wonder why it seems so difficult to feel close to Him at this time of year. Is it because I'm so busy? So distracted? Probably. In the month of January I not only want to restore my overly indulged body, I want to restore my tired, worn out spirit.
This morning, as I was doing my daily Bible reading (trying to read the whole Bible again this year) I came across the passage in Hebrews 10 that means so much to me. Here it is, you'll see why:
"...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:22-25
Don't you find that reading the words of God and applying them to your life alongside other friends and believers restores you..and encourages you..and spurs you on to love and good deeds? Have you experienced the way God's words, when they are really believed and put into practice, cleanses you from your guilty conscience? Don't you feel washed, clean, renewed, inspired, encouraged? Aaaahhh, just thinking about that makes me excited for the start of this season’s Bible studies.
I need you guys! We need each other! See you there.