“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 (NIV)
You determine the level of intimacy you have with God. The gap widens as you drift from God’s plan and God’s pursuit. When you become fixated on your personal agenda and seek to fulfill your fleshly cravings, the intimacy you once enjoyed with God erodes. Have you ever felt a distance between you and God? Have you experienced seasons where God seemed far away? Who moved?
Remember, the prodigal son made the life altering decision to get up and go back to his father. Notice how the prodigal son was still a long way off when his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. Who ran? Well, the son ran away from his father and then decided to return. The father ran to his son. That blesses my heart. The father ran to his son!
God draws us near in salvation and we respond by drawing near to Him through daily intimacy. When we make poor choices or neglect our love relationship with God, we are to return to God by confessing sin specifically and instantly. Sin grieves the heart of God and quenches the Spirit of God living in us. We navigate the relational proximity by our response to God’s compassion.
Close the gap by responding to God’s redeeming love. Your performance and your productivity do not grant you access into the reservoir of God’s compassion. Come to God in brokenness and humility as you recognize your dependency upon Him. God loves you completely and has a wonderful plan for your life. Remember, God factored in your sin and made the provision for your cleansing and renewal.
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
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