Beyond Common Sense

After the demise of our first rooster, we were “roosterless” for quite some time. As the months passed, a dear friend gave us another rooster; however by then, the hens were fully grown and our new rooster was just a banty rooster (which means he was small).  When we put him in the pen, the hens were none too pleased; and for a moment, we thought they would kill him.

I happened to be in the pen at the time and was wearing a long house-dress which came to my ankles. (At four feet eleven, that’s not unusual!)  As we all watched, wondering what to do, the rooster rushed under my dress and hid!

Eventually, he took his rightful place among the hens, but that picture came to my mind recently when my pastor read the following verse: Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. (James 4:8)  What an overwhelming thought: that God would draw nigh to me if I draw nigh to Him!  I can’t understand why He would do that, but I know He does!

Drawing nigh, perhaps even huddling under the shelter of His wing gives us such a joy, it is hard to describe; but I know that it is a place of great comfort, a shelter in the midst of a storm, my hiding place…Home, Sweet Home!

Just like that rooster, I know that I will find safety there.  Satan can do me no harm when I’m resting in the arms of my Heavenly Father, but to get there, I MUST draw nigh!  Then all the promises flow in.

One of my favorite songs is My God is Near by Mac Lynch.  The chorus goes:

When God is near, all the world seems far away,

When God is near, every fear is set aside.

When God is near, how can I stray, how can I falter?

I’ll stay upon the altar;  I know my God is near!

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Try it – He’s closer than you think; however, we do need to take a look at the rest of the verse: Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Is this a prerequisite for drawing nigh to God or is it a natural outcome of drawing nigh to God…or both? I’ll let you decide!

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