DRAWING NEAR TO GOD

 

Ps. 24:3-6 Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the LORD’s blessing and have right standing with God their Savior. They alone may enter God’s presence and worship the God of Israel.

     Who may climb to the mountain where God is? Who dares to approach God, whose holiness demands sin be punished with death wherever it is found? And, if one would dare to approach God, who would dare to stand still in His presence? Who is worthy to draw near to God?

     Only those whose hands and hearts are pure can draw near to God. Only those whose actions and motives are pure in God’s eyes are able to stand before God. In other words, only those who are living in Christ can stand before Him without fear. They do not have other objects of worship. They are honest in their hearts. They are a people blessed by God with salvation and a righteousness that allows them to draw near to God.

     All are invited to approach God, but only those who have pure hearts can linger. All are given opportunity to have pure hearts before God, but only a few actually seize the opportunity. Blessed are those who let Christ be their Savior, for they then can draw near and feast on the riches of God’s grace.

     True worship, worship that is acceptable and pleasing to God, comes from those who are made pure by the shed blood of Christ.