How can we seek to be "chosen" and "brought near" to God today? An Invitation Rooted in Psalm 65:4 “Blessed is the one You choose and bring near to dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple.” (Psalm 65:4) God Himself initiates the relationship—He chooses, He draws. Yet throughout Scripture He also calls us to respond, to position ourselves to experience the nearness He freely offers. Understanding “Chosen” and “Brought Near” • “Chosen” speaks of God’s gracious election—His deliberate act of setting His love on people (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:9). • “Brought near” highlights restored fellowship, made possible ultimately through Christ’s blood (Ephesians 2:13). • Both ideas carry a present invitation: enjoy intimate access to God and live out the identity He bestows. Responding to God’s Choosing • Believe the gospel. Jesus declared, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). Faith in Christ is the appointed doorway (John 14:6). • Receive the cleansing He provides. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us” (1 John 1:9). Sin separates; forgiveness restores fellowship. • Embrace your new identity. You are “a people for God’s own possession” (1 Peter 2:9). Let that truth shape daily choices. Practices That Draw Us Close • Regular, reverent Scripture intake – “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) – Read, meditate, memorize; expect the Spirit to illuminate truth. • Persistent prayer – “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) – Converse with Him through praise, confession, thanksgiving, and petitions. • Corporate worship and fellowship – God “inhabits the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3). – Gather with believers; encourage and be encouraged (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Obedient living – Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word” (John 14:23). – Holiness protects intimacy; disobedience dulls it. • Service in love – “Through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). – Pouring out for others aligns the heart with God’s. Living in the Satisfaction of His House • Contentment grows as we behold His goodness. Psalm 73:28: “But as for me, it is good to be near God.” • The “courts” and “temple” find fulfillment in Christ’s body and in the gathered church (1 Corinthians 3:16). Every act of communion with God previews the ultimate dwelling with Him forever (Revelation 21:3). Encouragement for the Journey God’s choosing does not produce passivity; it inspires pursuit. Each step of faith—trusting Christ, confessing sin, engaging Scripture, praying, worshiping, obeying—places us in the stream of His nearness. He delights to draw near to those who draw near to Him, and He promises, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14) |
    |