03.12.20 / DEVOTIONAL / PURE
‘Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ‘ James 4:8
I have a love/hate relationship with the New King James version.
It’s old and sometimes I can’t figure it out.
But, it’s also what I grew up with, and sometimes feels easier to understand.
Becasue of the grammar, the first thing I did was look up the word ‘draw’.
Here’s what it says in the dictionary:
“pull or drag (something such as a vehicle) so as to make it follow behind.”
So, when I look back at this verse, I have to ask myself, “how am I drawing near to God?” What actions am I taking to close that distance between us?
What’s awesome about this verse, is that it doesn’t completely fall on you.
This verse says that when we draw near to God, He is drawing near to us. I can imagine it to be similar to the popular verse Luke 6:38.
‘Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”’ Luke 6:38
In Luke 6:38, just as in James 4:8, there is an if/then scenario. If you do this, then this will happen. And, if there is anything that I want in my life, it’s to be close to the master creator, the one who knows the course and direction of my life.
I want to also include another translation of James 4:8, just so we can read it with a different lens. Here you go.
‘Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting. ‘ James (Jacob) 4:8
As you read this translation, you can see the picture of this pulling and pulling to get closer and closer to God. To me, it’s like a tug of war. But instead of God pulling against us, He’s pulling it closer to Him.
He’s there with us.
He wants to spend time with us.
He wants to hang with us.
He wants to answer all of our unknown questions.
He wants to still our hearts and minds.
He wants to let us know everything will be ok.
He’s the ultimate Father.
The master of compassion.
Most of us probably want to skip over the ‘cleanse your life’ portion and the whole ‘you’re a sinner’ speech. But hey, it’s true. We all think, say and so some pretty terrible stuff. We all have sinned in one way or another. We basically suck and that’s WHY we need Jesus.
Maybe ask God in your quiet time, “What do I need to do to get closer to you?” Be ready for answers and apply it immediatlely. Don’t wait, do it now.
Let’s finish today off with the final bit of the verse, to be “double minded” or to “stop doubting”.
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:8
How about that for being double minded or let’s just say, a doubter.
Stop doubting!
God is trying to get us to come hang with Him.
Most of us probably think He doesn’t want to hang with you.
He does.
He digs you.
He created you.
Your future is tied to your relationship with Him.
He is the master builder of your life.
Your life matters.
There is Hope.
You can make it.
I hate to be in a cheesy Christian song right now, but I can’t help to add Cody Carnes new song to the mix to help keep you going today.
- Move toward God
- Ask for forgiveness. You f’d up, it’s ok.
- Stop doubting. Believe God.
Let’s pray:
Jesus, help me today.
I want to get closer to you.
I’m not sure how, so I need your guidance.
Create in me a clean heart.
Forgive me for all my faults.
I need your help in all I do.
I want to believe in you.
All the time.
No doubt.
All Faith.
I love you.
