Who and or what are you drawn to?

​Who and or what are you drawn to?
Entice, Lure and Draw are synonymous terms. Try to think of something that entices, allures, or draws you in. Is it a food? Something on-line (something to watch or something to buy)? Commercials, advertisements and trailers are designed in such a way to draw you closer to desiring the product presented. I’m not an avid fisherman, but I do enjoy it when the opportunity arises. The whole purposes behind me rigging that worm onto my hook is to attract a nice big fish that I can reel in and be proud of. Just like that fish…we too know what our “worm” is and it doesn’t take much for Satan to dangle it there and for us to take the bait. Once hooked, then what? What should we renew our minds to be drawn to?

Below are a few Truths about Drawing Near:

• Between you and God. 
  • Drawing Near is a Choice.
    • You can either choose to be lured in to involve yourself in your evil desires, or lured into closeness with God.
    • James 1:13-15 (NKJV) 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
    • Lured into your own ways is to not trust His plan and timing.
  • How can you resist being enticed by evil desires?
    • Be enticed, lured, drawn to Him and His ways alone.
    • James 4:8 (NKJV) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
  • Where is God during your time of being lured into committing evil desires?
    • Though God is sinless, He is right there grieving in the midst of your committal of sin. He’s looking for you to turn back to Him so He can celebrate your return.
      • Psalm 139:8 (NKJV) If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
      • Ephesians 4:30 (NKJV) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
      • Article concerning what it means to Grieve the Holy Spirit
• What some choose to be drawn to during your return to God.
  • The Prodigal Son’s Brother.
    • Was drawn back to the place of celebration.
      • His response…
        • Questioned the event.
        • Became angry towards his father (God).
        • Justified his consistent “faithful” and dutiful actions.
      • God’s response…
        • I love you too. He has no favorites and treats all the same. 
        • Romans 2:11 (NIV) For God does not show favoritism.
• Your time to choose.
  • Will you be lured in to your own evil desires? Where will that get you?
  • Will you draw close to Him?
  • Will you draw close to the house of God and despise the attention a repentant brother or sister in Christ is receiving?
  • Will you celebrate the return of an erring brother or sister in Christ? How will that brother or sister in Christ know that you’re happy for him / her?
  • Do you find God, His ways, His provisions, His house, His Word alluring or deterring?
  • What’s one practical step that I can take today?
    • One stanza of the hymn I must tell Jesus reads as follows…
      • O how the world to evil allures me!
        O how my heart is tempted to sin!
        I must tell Jesus; He will enable
        Over the world the vic'try to win. Entire Hymn

Passages that influenced some of the points above are:

• Luke 15:20-31 (NKJV) 20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. 25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
• Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Praying for each of us.
Practicing His Presence,
Nate