There is a Place of Quiet Rest

There is a Place of Quiet Rest:

Staying Close to God

This week's theme in my guided reading book is "Staying Close to God", and it is seems to fit my life... as I wonder and seek out answers to how I can remain close to God at all times. While I was home, I was blessed to go to Chris & Nancy's wedding celebration. And there, Ken reminded us that when we spend time with the Lord and remain close to Him, then we are better able to love and be close to our spouses. I'd propose that it's not even unique to marriage... that it's essential for our relationships with our family, friends, co-workers. We are only able to live out God's love in all our relationships when our hearts are filled with His love... which happens when we stay close to Him.

What does it mean to be close to God?

A quote by Gordon MacDonald describes it this way:

"There is a place of quiet rest," the poet Cleland McAfee wrote, "near to the heart of God. A place where sin cannot molest." It can be a place to meet the One whom Helmut Thielike called 'The Waiting Father'. No one can live well without such places; but many try. ~From "Restoring Your Spiritual Passion"

Lord, this morning we ask your forgiveness for the times that we try to live without you, far from you. We ask that you would enter and fill our hearts, our minds, our souls, our being with Your love.

Who can be close to God?

In fact, that's what I was reading this morning in my scripture passage...

²⁸ One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

³² “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. ³³ To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

³⁴ When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. ~Mark 12:28-34

There are two very important aspects to this passage that stand out to me this morning. And, perhaps surprisingly, it's not the two most important commandments.

#1-

This morning, it's interesting to see that this 'man'... actually a pharisee or teacher of the law is right! After all the criticism of those 'white washed tombs', someone has answered wisely. And this teacher of the law gets it... he gets exactly what so many do not... it's not about the burnt offerings and sacrifices... it's about the love and glory we give to God, because He is one... and He is holy... and He is love.

#2-

Jesus tells the teacher of the law that he is "not far from the kingdom of God". Not far... that means near or close. By paying more attention to the spirit of the law (love for our God) than the letter of the law (the burnt offerings), we are closer to God. The usual bad guy in the story is not in this case. So no matter who we are, we can be close to God, but understanding, obeying, and living out these 2 commandments.

Where/when can we be close to God?

Similarly, Psalm 34 (which I have been reading every day this week... it is soo uplifting!) reminds us that these places/spaces/times where we can be close to God are not just when all is right we the world. Although times are sometimes difficult, God is close to us in those times... and He is faithful.. and He is near. Even if at a certain moment things are not perfect, it is comforting to know that... "The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth."

¹ I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
² I will glory in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
³ Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.

⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
⁶ This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
⁷ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

⁸ Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
⁹ Fear the LORD, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
¹⁰ The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
¹¹ Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
¹² Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
¹³ keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
¹⁴ Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

¹⁵ The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
¹⁶ but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.

¹⁷ The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
¹⁸ The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

¹⁹ The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
²⁰ he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

²¹ Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
²² The LORD will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. ~Psalm 34

Praise be to the Lord who desires closeness with us!

"Taste and see that the Lord is good!" Seek to be close to Him today... and every day... and all day... and love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength! Amen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8mr839-TVs