Are You Following at a Distance?

Does it sometimes feel like God is keeping His distance from you? Do you feel as if the close relationship you had with Him is waning? Ever wonder why? 

Let's take a lesson from Peter, the disciple upon whom Jesus said He would build His church.

Jesus had just spent 3 years teaching his followers. They had walked with him along the dusty roads of Israel, Slept in the desert and eaten in towns with Him. Sat with Him in the temples as He taught about God and His plan to bring salvation to mankind. Finally the time came when He needed to let them know that His death was drawing near.

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”  Matthew 26:1 (NLT)

As they traveled to Bethany, Jesus said... “Tonight all of you will desert me.  Matthew 26:31 (NLT)

Peter, was adamant! He declared, "Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you,"  Matthew 26:33 (NLT) 

But then, Jesus was betrayed and led away by a mob of men with clubs and swords. All the disciples scattered, perhaps fearing that they, too, would be hauled off to prison. All except Peter, that is. What did Peter do?

"Meanwhile, Peter followed him (Jesus) at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end." Matthew 26:58 (NLT)

Peter followed Jesus at a distance. This was the beginning of Peter's fall, which led him to deny that he had any relationship with Jesus at all.

We can pick up here with the truth that any time we begin to distance ourselves from God, He begins to seem further and further away. 

We might begin by neglecting to read the Bible, getting too busy to pray, or allowing things to slip into our lives that we know aren't right.

We might be still going to church (at least most of the time) and acknowledging that we are believers, Christ followers, but we've begun following at a distance and that can only lead to drifting away from our relationship with God. Suddenly we hit a crisis and need God's help. We pray and search the Word, but God seems so far away. The truth is that He is always as close as our next breath, but it doesn't seem so.

How do we fix that? How do we return to the close relationship we had before?

"This is what the Lord says: "Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old godly way, and walk in it." (Jeremiah 6:16 (NLT)

Prayer:

Father, I recognize that I've been drifting, that I've allow distance between us. Please forgive me. I truly want a close relationship with you. I'm turning back to what I used to do when we were close. Lord, strengthen my faith and give me a sharp awareness of your constant presence. Amen

Return to the things you once knew and God promise is this;

"Come close to God, and God will come close to you..." James 4:8 (NLT)

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