Approaching God

“If we have never had the experience of taking our casual, religious shoes off our casual, religious feet— getting rid of all the excessive informality with which we approach God— it is questionable whether we have ever stood in His presence. The people who are flippant and disrespectful in their approach to God are those who have never been introduced to Jesus Christ. Only after the amazing delight and liberty of realizing what Jesus Christ does, comes the impenetrable "darkness" of realizing who He is.” (Oswald Chambers, 1874-1917)

Those of you who read the devotional book, “My Utmost for His Highest,” will recognize this as part of the reading for today. The holiness of God is something that earlier generations of Christians understood more clearly, I think.

How we approach God depends on this understanding of His holiness. What we expect from Him mirrors this as well. How often do we pray as a means of “hedging our bets?” Do we really believe that He hears us, or are we diligent “just in case?” How many times have we offered up something to God, only to continue to worry about it after our final amen?

Beth Moore, in her study of the apostle John (“Beloved Disciple”), quotes John 11:41-42 to demonstrate Christ’s confidence in His praying:

“Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me.”

She then encourages her readers to approach God with the same confidence. She asks, “How differently would we pray if Christ appeared bodily and sat in a chair across from each of us, leaning forward to concentrate on what we’re saying?”

But therein lies one of the paradoxes of the Christian faith. How does one have that type of intimate relationship with a Being that is too marvelous, too powerful, too unfathomable for our simple minds to grasp? Why would the Lord of All That I Know and See and Hear and Feel and Much Much More, possibly care about my day to day struggles?

This is what I conclude. It is only such a One who would.

When I realize that He is the only One who can do all things, and will act according to His purpose always, but nevertheless, delights in me (of all people), I need to remember, as I approach Him, to remove not only my sandals, but my irreverence and flippancy. Without a doubt, this is holy ground.