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NEAR

But for me it is good to be near God; Psalm 73:28

This statement may seem a bit obvious since God Himself is the greatest and highest good in the entire universe, for all time. Nevertheless, let us meditate for a moment upon what it means to be near our God and Savior. First, the statement implies that it would not be good to be far from God. Therefore, anything hindering our nearness to Christ should be despised and discarded, just as our Lord Jesus declared (Luke 14:26-27). Next, we see its personal application. Surely, Christ’s church drawing near to God is a good thing; yet, the psalmist expresses the individual relationship every believer has with the Almighty, and the blessing you and I receive by drawing near. Third, since God alone is good (Matt 19:17), nearness to God cannot be subdued by our situations or circumstances. Are you in the pit of despair? Draw near to God and His light will displace the gloom. Are you exhilarated with joy unspeakable? Draw near to God and you won’t be carried away with emotionalism or rash decisions. Finally, we must consider the source of being able to draw near to God at all— the atoning sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He who was all good and went about doing good (Acts 10:38), who was nearer to God the Father than any man had ever been, or could ever be (John 1:18), was ravished by men who were not good and were not near to God, and moreover, He also suffered God’s wrath for sins He did not commit, so that you and I could be near God. The goodness of God far exceeds what pen could write or tongue could tell. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Yes, surely it is good for me
To be near the God who gave
His only Son, pinn’d to a tree,
A sacrifice that saves.

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9/22 Reading Portions: 2 Samuel 18; 2 Corinthians 11; Ezekiel 25; Psalm 73