Walk To Draw Near!

December 23, 2021

Walk To Draw Near!

It is unavoidable; Christmas is just two days away! 

For some, Christmas day comes with a mix of emotions.  There are relationship stresses and strains for some.  There is anxiety and anger for others.  There is longing for traditions and memories to be recreated one more time for many others.  There is the hope of peace and joy for most of us.

Underneath all the other hopes and dreams for Christmas, there is a longing to draw near to God once again.  We all draw near to Jesus in different ways.  There is probably not one way that is “right” for everyone. 

I imagine, though, that a choice to open our heart, our mind, and our soul to the presence of Jesus is a great first step.

In previous weeks, I have suggested some physical postures that can help prepare us to draw near to Jesus.  We can lie down, we can sit down, and we can bow down.  In the Bible and in the traditions of the Christian Church, we see the effectiveness of using different postures to draw near to the Lord.

Luke describes another posture.  On the night the Savior is born in a stable, some shepherds notice something different in the night sky outside of town.  They decide to take a walk and see what is going on.

In Luke 2:15 we hear; “…the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’”  The shepherds go for a walk so they can draw near to the new thing God is doing; the birth of God’s only Son, Jesus!

King David mentions taking a walk as a way to draw near to the Lord God.  In Psalm 56:13 we hear; “For you have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from falling, so that I may walk before God in the light of life.”  Walking with God brings Jesus who is the “light of life” close to us.

After Jesus is raised from death to life, He joins two men who are walking from the city of Jerusalem to the town of Emmaus.  In Luke 24:13,15 we hear; “Now on that same day two of them were going (walking) to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem…while they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them…” 

While taking a walk, two men have a conversation with the Son of God.  Just a few hours later, those two men recognize Jesus as the Son of God.  Two men are as near to the Son of God as any of us could ever hope to be.  That holy moment occurs when two men are walking.

Sometimes I wonder if the holy moment for which you are longing will come when you go for a walk and have a conversation with Jesus.  Like the shepherds, surrendered to what God wants to do.  Like the shepherds, in awe of who God is.  Like the shepherds, in wonder of why God would draw near to you.

During the couple of days before Christmas, I invite you to take a walk and draw near to Jesus.  Be still.  Be quiet.  Be open.  Like the shepherds outside of Bethlehem, start heading towards the heart of Jesus so you may know the joy of His love.

When we draw near to Jesus, our heart will be filled with delight; a delight not unlike the shepherds’ delight when they walk into the place where the King of Kings is lying in a manger.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug