- Nov 3, 2012
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In this March 14th devotion Mrs. Cowman provides a message about drawing near to God. There is a scripture which Believers quote only partially (most times) Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you......but there's more!
The full verse is:
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:7
Mrs. Cowman opens this devotion with Exodus 20:21. Why did Moses go up to the mountain alone? Why didn't God's people join him? One possibility would be James 4:7. Moses drew near to God with a purified heart and clean hands. There was no double mindedness in him. The people had not yet made that commitment to God. Like the modern church that refuses to part ways with their sin, these people had yet to be sanctified not realizing that was the very key to true fellowship with God. It is what Abraham had, David had, Isaiah had, Ezekiel had, Jeremiah had, it was their life lived wholly unto God that caused God to draw nigh (near) unto them!
The other possibility of why the people didn't want to go up with Moses again points to unrepented sin in their life. If Moses went up alone, there would be no witnesses to what God told him. Therein they could fall back on the excuse that they would not obey a man because they didn't like what he was saying. After all, they weren't there so they did not personally hear God speak. It would have been an excuse not to accept the message Moses had been given to deliver to them.
Each of us must draw nigh unto God. This is something no Pastor, Priest or Rabbi can do for us. There is one greater than Moses with us. Jesus Christ is our advocate, our intercessor and because of His death, burial, resurrection on the 3rd day we can boldly approach the throne of grace..... We must confess our sins directly to God and we will obtain mercy and forgiveness through His Son who paid the price to reconcile us back to God..
The people kept their distance, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was. (Exodus 20:21)
God has still His hidden secrets, hidden from the wise and prudent. Do not fear them; be content to accept things that you cannot understand; wait patiently. Presently He will reveal to you the treasures of darkness, the riches of the glory of the mystery. Mystery is only the veil of God’s face.
Do not be afraid to enter the cloud that is settling down on your life. God is in it. The other side is radiant with His glory. “Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.” When you seem loneliest and most forsaken, God is nigh. He is in the dark cloud. Plunge into the blackness of its darkness without flinching; under the shrouding curtain of His pavilion you will find God awaiting you.
—Selected
“Hast thou a cloud?
Something that is dark and full of dread;
A messenger of tempest overhead?
A something that is darkening the sky;
A something growing darker bye and bye;
A something that thou fear’st will burst at last;
A cloud that doth a deep, long shadow cast,
God cometh in that cloud.
Hast thou a cloud?
It is Jehovah’s triumph car: in this
He rideth to thee, o’er the wide abyss.
It is the robe in which He wraps His form;
For He doth gird Him with the flashing storm.
It is the veil in which He hides the light
Of His fair face, too dazzling for thy sight.
God cometh in that cloud.
Hast thou a cloud?
A trial that is terrible to thee?
A black temptation threatening to see?
A loss of some dear one long thine own?
A mist, a veiling, bringing the unknown?
A mystery that unsubstantial seems:
A cloud between thee and the sun’s bright beams?
God cometh in that cloud.
Hast thou a cloud?
A sickness—weak old age—distress and death?
These clouds will scatter at thy last faint breath.
Fear not the clouds that hover o’er thy barque,
Making the harbour’s entrance dire and dark;
The cloud of death, though misty, chill and cold,
Will yet grow radiant with a fringe of gold.
GOD cometh in that cloud.”
As Dr. C. stood on a high peak of the Rocky Mountains watching a storm raging below him, an eagle came up through the clouds, and soared away towards the sun and the water upon him glistened in the sunlight like diamonds. Had it not been for the storm he might have remained in the valley. The sorrows of life cause us to rise towards God.
The full verse is:
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:7
Mrs. Cowman opens this devotion with Exodus 20:21. Why did Moses go up to the mountain alone? Why didn't God's people join him? One possibility would be James 4:7. Moses drew near to God with a purified heart and clean hands. There was no double mindedness in him. The people had not yet made that commitment to God. Like the modern church that refuses to part ways with their sin, these people had yet to be sanctified not realizing that was the very key to true fellowship with God. It is what Abraham had, David had, Isaiah had, Ezekiel had, Jeremiah had, it was their life lived wholly unto God that caused God to draw nigh (near) unto them!
The other possibility of why the people didn't want to go up with Moses again points to unrepented sin in their life. If Moses went up alone, there would be no witnesses to what God told him. Therein they could fall back on the excuse that they would not obey a man because they didn't like what he was saying. After all, they weren't there so they did not personally hear God speak. It would have been an excuse not to accept the message Moses had been given to deliver to them.
Each of us must draw nigh unto God. This is something no Pastor, Priest or Rabbi can do for us. There is one greater than Moses with us. Jesus Christ is our advocate, our intercessor and because of His death, burial, resurrection on the 3rd day we can boldly approach the throne of grace..... We must confess our sins directly to God and we will obtain mercy and forgiveness through His Son who paid the price to reconcile us back to God..
The people kept their distance, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was. (Exodus 20:21)
God has still His hidden secrets, hidden from the wise and prudent. Do not fear them; be content to accept things that you cannot understand; wait patiently. Presently He will reveal to you the treasures of darkness, the riches of the glory of the mystery. Mystery is only the veil of God’s face.
Do not be afraid to enter the cloud that is settling down on your life. God is in it. The other side is radiant with His glory. “Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.” When you seem loneliest and most forsaken, God is nigh. He is in the dark cloud. Plunge into the blackness of its darkness without flinching; under the shrouding curtain of His pavilion you will find God awaiting you.
—Selected
“Hast thou a cloud?
Something that is dark and full of dread;
A messenger of tempest overhead?
A something that is darkening the sky;
A something growing darker bye and bye;
A something that thou fear’st will burst at last;
A cloud that doth a deep, long shadow cast,
God cometh in that cloud.
Hast thou a cloud?
It is Jehovah’s triumph car: in this
He rideth to thee, o’er the wide abyss.
It is the robe in which He wraps His form;
For He doth gird Him with the flashing storm.
It is the veil in which He hides the light
Of His fair face, too dazzling for thy sight.
God cometh in that cloud.
Hast thou a cloud?
A trial that is terrible to thee?
A black temptation threatening to see?
A loss of some dear one long thine own?
A mist, a veiling, bringing the unknown?
A mystery that unsubstantial seems:
A cloud between thee and the sun’s bright beams?
God cometh in that cloud.
Hast thou a cloud?
A sickness—weak old age—distress and death?
These clouds will scatter at thy last faint breath.
Fear not the clouds that hover o’er thy barque,
Making the harbour’s entrance dire and dark;
The cloud of death, though misty, chill and cold,
Will yet grow radiant with a fringe of gold.
GOD cometh in that cloud.”
As Dr. C. stood on a high peak of the Rocky Mountains watching a storm raging below him, an eagle came up through the clouds, and soared away towards the sun and the water upon him glistened in the sunlight like diamonds. Had it not been for the storm he might have remained in the valley. The sorrows of life cause us to rise towards God.
