Close to God

Do you ever feel far from God?

I think we all do in some ways at some times in our lives. We show up on a Sunday morning feeling like we don't belong because of the sin in our lives. We condemn ourselves because of our sin and therefore feel as though God does not accept us. This is a huge problem! Romans 8:1 says, "There is now, therefore, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Condemnation is a guilty judgment. God says that for those who in Christ Jesus there is no guilty judgment because the guilty sentence was placed on the shoulders of Jesus Christ on the cross and nailed there to be buried and left dead. So when we show up to worship and we carry those very burdens that Christ died for, we are essentially saying that Christ's payment for our sins was not enough. We are saying that His grace is not enough. John tells us in 1 John 3:19-24 that though our heart condemns us(because the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked-Jeremiah 17:9), God is greater than our hearts. That means that even though we condemn ourselves for our sin, God's gift of freedom in Jesus Christ is greater than our sin. Not only that but John says, "and God knows everything." God knows more about your sinful heart than you do. He knows of sins you committed that you don't even know you committed. Therefore, God has more reason than you to condemn you, yet He doesn't condemn you because Jesus took your guilty verdict. So who are you to condemn youself?

As Christians, we need to start living in the freedom that Jesus purchased for us and stop living as though God does not accept us. He accepts us FULLY, not because of what we have done or not done, but because of what Jesus did for us. Freedom in the Christian life is far too lacking these days. We need to begin to realize that in Christ "we have boldness and access with confidence"(Eph.3:12). We have full access to the Father because Jesus bridged the gap and we have boldness to come to God confidently because we are completely accepted by God at all times because we are IN Jesus Christ.

When we feel as though God is not pleased with us and we feel as though we can't worship Him because of our sin, who are we focusing on? Ourselves! To focus your energy on your sin problem is a selfish act. Instead, God tells us to put on the mind of Christ. We need to focus on Him and not ourselves. When our sin has us down, realize the truth that Jesus set you free from that sin and burden and begin to live TO God. When we begin to realize this truth, we will find so much freedom in Jesus Christ and begin to put away that old man that thinks he is unworthy. We find our worth in Jesus Christ and to approach God as though we are unworthy is a claim that Jesus is unworthy.

Stop focusing on your sin and start realizing, "For freedom Christ has set you free"(Gal. 5:1). Worship God as though He set you free from sin and now gives you freedom to worship Him.