Approaching God
Approaching God
I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.
—Psalms 5:7
Seeker of God, how your heart desires to approach Him! You are like a starving kitten, a panting deer. How your soul thirsts for Him! His invitation to you is to come and partake. Come! You who thirst! Come to the waters and be satisfied (Isa 55:1; Pss 63:5)!
But you must not come thoughtlessly. Take heed that you approach Him in truth (John 4:24). Your entrance into His presence must be marked by two principles. Firstly, come through the abundance of His steadfast love. You are welcomed into His presence because His love for you is sincere (1 John 4:19). His heart is warm and tender toward you. He pities you. He is moved with compassion and would have you flee to His embrace now (Matt 9:36; Matt 23:37)!
When He looks upon you, He finds you lovely. You are lovely because Christ has made it so. Satan would have you believe that you enter God’s presence like some spited stray whose presence is barely tolerated, but this is an insidious lie of that cursed serpent meant to discourage your resting in God’s love. To what can God’s love for you be compared? He awaits you in the same way a groom awaits his bride at the altar (Luke 15:11-32).
Secondly, come into His presence bowing down in the fear of Him. His love for you casts out all ungodly and inappropriate fears, but it increases right and reverent fear (1 John 4:18). God is loving and merciful, and He is holy and majestic. He is sovereign and almighty. How could you not tremble in your rejoicing (Pss 2:11)? Beloved, approach God in this way: with humble confidence. Enter into His presence with rejoicing and trembling. Pilgrims are steady kept, by faith and fear (John Bunyan).
Everlasting God, I approach You now invited by Your love. I come trembling because of Your greatness. Thank You for receiving me with such great mercy!
