I was pretty awkward in Middle School. I played hockey, nobody else did. I didn’t play football or basketball. I was in the band. I was really insecure. The worst part of my day was lunch. I felt like I was on the outside looking in. I felt far away. By the beginning of my junior year things had changed. I had a group of friends where I was on the inside. It felt like I had been brought near.
When it comes to the people of God, we all start off like awkward middle schoolers. We are far off. Part of the beauty of the gospel is found in this statement from Ephesians 2:13,
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13 ESV)
We were far off, physically and spiritually away. When a person is not in Christ they are far off, excluded, separated from the body of Christ. “But now…” What a beautiful turn of phrase. Even though we were at one time far off, “But now…” we are brought near. God, through Christ, has brought us near.
Our imperfections, our sin, created a wall between us and God. We were separate and far off. The wall couldn’t be brought down by anything that we could possibly do. The reality is this, for us to be brought near God had to do it himself.
And he did.
God brought us near.
How does it make you feel that God wanted you to be near to him?
