Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8
How close we are to God always depends on how close we are to sin. While the Lord loves us and will never leave nor forsake us, He has no desire to be second place to anyone or anything. As the rather timeworn saying goes, “He must be Lord of all, or He will not be Lord at all.”
As no right-minded husband or wife would ever consent to share their marriage partner with someone else, the Lord will not share His fellowship with those who belong to Him with anything other Himself. The Greek word translated as purify in this verse also means “to make chaste.” It correlates with spiritual adultery, just as when James called believers to have pure, humble hearts and said, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend as that is, it precisely what James said. While most Christians would be highly insulted if they were accused of committing adultery with someone else’s spouse, they take lightly their infatuation and flirtations with the world.
But not God!
When it comes to sin, the word trivial never appears in His dictionary! A gospel that so plainly speaks of dying to self leaves no room for the half-hearted commitment of an indifferent and unrepentant person. Those who have any serious interest in having fellowship with the Lord must come before Him with clean hands, pure hearts, and an undivided mind. Anything less than that is a waste of time. For the Lord has said, “Can two walk together, unless they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).*
Gracious Lord, it is my sincere desire to have fellowship with You today. I honestly want to draw near to You so that You will draw near to me. According to Your Word, I cannot do that unless my hands are clean, my heart is pure, and my mind is undivided. Reveal to me anything that displeases You and causes separation between us. Make me willing to confess it and forsake it. I ask this in Your dear name. Amen.
*Junior Hill, Hartselle, AL