Cling to God

Deuteronomy 13:4

You shall follow the Lord your God and fear him, and you shall keep his commandments. Listen to his voice, serve him and cling to him.

It is one thing to touch someone but a deeper thing to cling to them. In one instance you are simply getting their attention in another you are showing you desperately need them. The longer you are in the faith there is a tendency to loosen the tight grip you had on Christ when you first got saved. The urgency of discipleship is swept away by comfort. Yet we must cling to Christ as though our lives depend on it because they do.

Remember Peter’s words to Jesus after many people abandoned Jesus’ hard teaching: “Lord, to whom would we go? You alone have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68). Consider the alternatives for a moment. Say you gave up your belief in God, what becomes the anchor of your life? There were times when I drifted from God and thought I should stay far away. But as I waded through the alternatives, I asked myself the same question ‘Where else can I find life?’

One of the things that loosens the grip on God is mistakes. When you sin, it is easy to stay far from God. Sin puts a distance and guilt keeps you from coming home. Yet it is in that state where we most desperately need to hold on to God, for what other alternatives are there? Hopeless despair as you are consumed by your depravity? Quiet peace with your sins that lead to death? Self-justification to wash out the guilt you feel? Look around and you will find no other refuge. Turn around oh prodigal, you are welcome home.

Notice how the desires of this world fall away the more you cling to Christ. Your hands are too full grasping to his promises to be distracted. The world’s itching treasures leave you wanting more each time. Never satiated you go back to the same broken well. May we cling before we fall, hold fast before we regret. Pray that you may be full of God’s spirit that prompts you in the right way. Clasp the hand that leadeth you. You know God’s promises to be with you. To take back his prodigal child that comes back home. There is always a home in the everlasting arms.

Turn to Jesus, let his Spirit come alive in you, for we are changed not by the strength of our will but by the Spirit of God working in us. That is why Paul says that when we are weak then we are strong. Our strength comes from the arms of God that hold us. We stand justified because of the righteousness of Christ. Beloved, cling ever more tightly to the one who makes you right within. God alone has the words of life. When conscience weighs heavy, when you fall into sin, when hope seems lost; Hold on, don’t let go.

If you have one desire, come true this year let it be that you remain in Christ that you may bear fruit. Hold onto the one who is holding onto you. Remain loyal to the most faithful God there is. Keep his commands, by his Spirit, you can. Listen to his voice guiding you in the way you should go. Cling to him.