God Is Near

"If you sin, how does that affect God? Even if you sin again and again, what effect will it have on Him? If you are good, is this some great gift to Him? What could you possibly give Him? No, your sins affect only people like yourself, and your good deeds also affect only humans. People cry out when they are oppressed. They groan beneath the power of the mighty. Yet they don't ask, 'Where is God my Creator, the One who gives songs in the night? Where is the One who makes us smarter than the animals and wiser than the birds of the sky?' And when they cry out, God does not answer because of their pride. But it is wrong to say God doesn't listen, to say the Almighty isn't concerned. You say you can't see Him, but He will bring justice if you will only wait. You say He does not respond to sinners with anger and is not greatly concerned about wickedness. But you are talking nonsense, Job. You have spoken like a fool." Job 35:6-16 (NLT)

The LORD is always near to us and ready to forgive us of our sins (1John 1:9). We should never doubt the love God has for us and we should know that His love remains constant in all seasons of our lives. God is our Stronghold, our Defender, our Rock. Our confidence in Him should never sway and our confidence in His plans for us should never diminish.

If God has proven Himself not to be a liar or a deceiver (1 Peter 2:22), then what part of us would assume He'd start now? If we treat God as if we believe He is distant, unforgiving, ashamed of us and fickle in His love toward us, then why believe in Him at all? Why worship a God who does not accept us or truly love us when He says He does? God's Grace and Mercy lift us above other religions. We are not a religion; we have a relationship with our Creator.

God desires a close relationship with us just as He and Moses had in Exodus 33:11. Be bold and confident in God and come to His throne of grace unashamed and ready to move on from sin (Hebrews 4:14-15). No sin, no person, no circumstance can separate us from God (Romans 8:38), unless we turn away from Him and no longer walk with Him. It's a choice, a decision to be in a relationship with Him.

Do you want it?

If you have weighed out the cost of being a follower of Christ and still choose Him, then keep fighting the good fight. Keep running the race. Do not give  up.

Because...He hasn't given up on you.

by Chloe Ball