"He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit."
Ephesians 2:17-18 (NIV)
Many of us quietly believe God is near only when we pray well. If I am honest enough, sincere enough, and clean enough, He will come close. If I am not, He keeps His distance. So we measure every prayer before we pray it. On some days the measuring wins, and we do not pray at all.
Psalm 145 can feed that fear. Verse 18 says the LORD is near to all who call on Him in truth. Verse 20 says the wicked will be destroyed. If nearness depends on how truly I call, where does that leave me? Most of us know the places in our hearts we would rather He not look.
Paul answers with who came, not with how well we called. In Ephesians 2:17, Christ comes and preaches peace to those far away and to those near. The movement starts with Him. Paul writes to people who had once been far away. He says the blood of Christ brought them near (Ephesians 2:13). They did not get there by praying better.
Through Jesus we have access to the Father by one Spirit. All three Persons are named in verse 18. Access is a standing we are given. It is not a feeling we produce. We come through the Son, to the Father, by the Spirit. We do not stand at the door waiting to see whether our prayer qualifies.
None of this makes Psalm 145:20 disappear. God does take evil seriously. We do not solve that by pretending the verse is not there. Jesus came to sinners, died for them, and rose again. Because of Him, people like us can come to a Holy King and be received. Christians see the stooping of Psalm 145:14 shown most fully in Him.
Godseekers, our calling rests on His coming. Your prayer may be shaky. Your words may be few. You may not feel sure of your own sincerity. You are still not outside the door. Honest prayer matters, but it is not what opens the way. Come with the prayer you have, and let Christ be the reason you are received.
Prayer
Father, I confess that I have measured my prayers before I offered them. I have believed that Your nearness depends on how well I call. Thank You that Jesus came and made a way to You. I come through Him and by Your Spirit, not by my own record. Receive this imperfect prayer. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
- What do you feel you have to fix or feel before you can come to God honestly?
- Who or what taught you that God's nearness depends on your performance, and what has that cost you in prayer?
Step of Faith
Talk to God today exactly as you are, before you try to fix yourself first. Tell God what is on your heart in whatever words you have. End by saying, "Thank You, Jesus, that I come through You."
