Mindset

December 23

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that it is God’s desire to “come near” to His creation. In James 4:8 we are given this definitive insight into the matter: “Come near to God and God will come near to you and clean sin out of your lives. You who are trying to follow God and the world at the same time must make your thinking pure.”

The one thing that stands between fallen man and his redemption is his thinking. If man allows his mind to be on the things of the world, if he maintains a double standard which causes him to cling to the treasures of time while attempting to grasp the promises of eternity, he will fail abysmally—perhaps at both endeavors.

But he has the assurance that if he will focus his heart upon the abiding gift the Lord Jesus died to attain for him—that “unspeakable gift” of salvation (II Corinthians 9:15)—the God of all that exists will assure his receipt of not only that most precious of gifts but of the accompanying treasures of hope, truth, joy, peace, faith and love.

We know that the Lord is faithful to His word. He is committed to man beyond any loyalty man has ever known. Psalm 27:10 says, “If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me in.” Even if those nearest and dearest to us turn away, when we draw near to the Lord, HE will, “…stick closer than a brother,” Proverbs 18:24.