Words of Jesus Christ in "Red" 
Are you disturbed by the distance, if any, there is between you and God? Does your soul yearn for a closer walk with Him? Does your heart break for all those - family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and nations - who do not know Him personally and are separated from Him because of their sin? Then this message is for you!
There is a cry that heaven is waiting to hear from the Redeemed of the Lord. It is the cry from the depths of their hearts, saying - "Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea." Amidst all of the distractions, diversions, pleasures, and idols; heaven is looking for those who will lay it all aside and run after the Lord Jesus out of extreme desperation.
Who will get desperate enough to shut out all of the disturbances of this earthly life to seek God - not for what His hand can provide - but for Who He is and for His kingdom to come and His will to be done in earth as it is in heaven?
However, we all know that just as in the case of our salvation, we cannot come on our own to Him. We did not just decide one day that we were going to serve the Lord. God, by His Spirit and His Word, drew us unto Himself by His Amazing Grace.
Now that we are saved and have walked with the Lord for some time, it is the same grace that is needed to pull us away from the influences of the world, the flesh, and the devil to "follow hard" after God. (Read the entire Psalm 63 when you get a chance - it's one of my favorite)
Psalm 63:8 "My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me."
Look what the Scriptures have to say:
Song of Solomon 1:4 "Draw me, we will run after Thee..."
Who would deny that the Church as a whole has lost so much in her walk with Christ? She has grown so worldly, carnal, sensual, and fleshly. But there is arising a cry from a holy remnant of believers. With hot tears streaming down their faces, they are actually moaning and groaning with earnest pleas - "Draw me, and we will run after Thee..."
Both Prophets - Jeremiah and Hosea - spoke of God's drawing power. The people of God turned away from Him for the idols of the land. Nonetheless, like a "Giant Magnet of Love", God drew them back unto Himself.
Jeremiah 31:3 "...with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."
Hosea 11:4 "I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love..."
He drew them with His mercies - with mild, gentle, loving, endearing, and sweet methods. He could have used force, but He chose the means of kindness and love - "cords of a man, with bands of love." So it is, that God is desiring to woo us back unto Himself .
But what about those dear loved ones and friends who do not know this Wonderful Savior? How will they ever come to Him? They have no interest in Him. They are so deceived and distracted by the devil. Many of them do not even realize their need for God.
The Scriptures instruct us that God's Amazing Grace can and will draw them to Salvation as it did us:
John 6:44 "No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him..."
John 12:32 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me."
No one could possibly come to God except He influence their souls and enlighten their minds with His Truth. God does such a work of grace in each individual whereby their entire bent is altered. Their delight and desire turns from the things of this world unto the Father and His Glorious Son Jesus by this drawing power called "grace".
Perhaps you feel as though you are one of God's sheep who has gone astray. Call out to God for His grace. Plead with the Lord - "Draw me..."
You may be a Christian who loves the Lord with all your heart, yet you have a "Holy Restlessness" in your soul that cannot be met. You desire more and more for a closer walk with Him. Cry earnestly from the depths of your soul for God's wonderful grace - "Draw me..."
Or you may be a brokenhearted grandparent, parent, spouse, or child whose loved ones are away from God. No matter how much you pray and preach to them, they seemingly get further and further away from Him. Plead with God this day for His "Amazing Grace" to draw those loved ones unto Himself.
II Corinthians 1:20 "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us."
Lay hold of the mighty promises of God that are "yea" and "Amen" in Christ Jesus. We know from the word of God that "all men" (see our articles on "Grace" by clicking here!) are called by God at least once in their lives. We never know if God has already called on one of our loved ones or friends in the past ... however we can and should still plead with Him to "Draw Them" to Him again and again!
Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good? "
He won't change His mind concerning His promises. With "lovingkindness" - "cords of a man, with bands of love" - He will draw them by His alluring grace.
In closing, I leave a quote from a rabbi - "He who desires to cleave to the holy and blessed God, God lays hold of him, and will not cast him off."
With a Holy Restlessness, cleave to the Holy and blessed God for yourself and for your family. He will not cast you off.
 Send E-mail to Russ: webslave for Christ ( russ@jesuswept.com ) with questions or comments about this web site and it's content. Last modified: 12/04/2002 |
