Brought Near

BROUGHT NEAR

a prayer to open

Here I am, Lord. Remind me who I am.

I am loved. I am known. I belong to you.

But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Often we think of God as residing somewhere far away—up in the sky or beyond the farthest universe—where we have no access. But he is closer than we could imagine, filling our lungs, sustaining our breaths, experiencing our sorrow, and sourcing our joy. He is that near. Jesus has made it so. Jesus brought peace, quieting our rebellion against God, hushing our innate desires to turn toward lesser gods for fulfillment and purpose, and stilling the deep longing in our souls to be known and loved. A peace that passes understanding. A peace that defies that state of the world. A peace that cannot be found in the absence of God. We have been brought near, and nothing can separate us from God’s love.

• Reflect on the idea of God seeking you out and bringing you near him. What comes to mind as you reflect? What image might help you remember your closeness when circumstances threaten to distract or overwhelm you or when doubt about God’s love for you creeps into your heart and mind?
• What does it look like for Jesus to be your peace in your walking-around life—when you get cut off in traffic, face difficult news, are triggered by a harsh comment, or feel anxious about money?
• Take a moment to quiet yourself in God’s loving presence. Ask him to open your eyes and heart to the ways he wants you to live more fully into the truth that you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. What did God bring to mind?

Father, thank you for seeking me out and bringing me near. Help me live every moment in the peace of knowing that you are closer than I can grasp, sustaining my every breath. I am so often on edge and irritated by the insignificant. I can be plagued by anxiety and driven by fear. Help me live out the reality of having been brought near to you and held near by you. May Jesus Christ be at the center of my being and my relationships so my soul is settled and my love without restraint. Continue molding me into a peacemaker so I may live in a way that demonstrates your presence in my life and in the world. Amen.