July 27: Drawing Near to God

 Theme: Strengthening your relationship with him

 

Dacia Chambers,
Shepherdess CIC,
 Savannah SDA Church

Scripture: James 4:8

"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

 In my early years as a Christian, I remember the feeling I had when I had just given my life to the Lord. I struggled with the idea as I wondered whether my relationship with God would be sustained. I had seen so many before who started the Christian journey and stopped somewhere along the way and I was fearful of that. When I considered the life, I had to give up for the life in Christ, it was an internal battle. However, I realized that God is more interested in our individual relationship with Him rather than our collective our individual comparison of our Christian journey. Once I was baptized, oh, how it burned within me to witness to others and what joy it brought even if it meant to do missionary work in another country.

 Then shortly after I enrolled in university, the opportunity arose to be a Student Literature Evangelist (SLE). The sale of Christian literature through the SLE summer program bolstered my Christian journey, and it was through this program I first experienced drawing near to God and Him drawing near to me. That fire to serve Him even more, translated into a deep enthusiasm to share his word, and as a result, that reciprocal relationship with the supreme being became unfathomable, I was able to cover my tuition for three consecutive years! God carried me through university without taking a Student Loan.  

With little to no experience in sales or business, it was evident to me that God only wants a sincere and willing heart to serve Him, one that is intimate with Him to accomplish His work. In James 4:8, The scripture reminds us to draw near to God and He will draw near to us. God’s love is unmatched, we simply cannot outdo God and even when we think we do not deserve it, or we are not fully equipped, once you draw close to Him. He is ready and waiting with outstretched arms.  

According to James 4:8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double -minded" In essence, James 4:8 is a call to repentance, faith, and a wholehearted pursuit of God. It's a reminder that drawing near to God involves both outward actions and inward transformation.

This verse is a heartfelt call to intimacy with God. In its context, James is addressing believers who had been influenced by worldly desires, urging them to turn away from sin and return to God with sincerity. The phrase “draw nigh to God” is deeply relational—it echoes God’s continual desire throughout Scripture to be close to His people (e.g., Exodus 19:5, Jeremiah 29:13). James reminds us that the first step in restoring this relationship is ours to take, but God immediately meets us when we do. Ellen White wrote, “It is not the fear of punishment, or the hope of everlasting reward, that leads the disciples of Christ to follow Him. They behold the Saviour’s matchless love… and the sight of Him attracts, it softens and subdues the soul” (Steps to Christ, p. 44). This shows that drawing near to God begins with recognizing His love—not just guilt over our wrongs.

 

The call to “cleanse your hands” and “purify your hearts” points to both outward actions and inward motives. In biblical terms, clean hands represent right actions (Psalm 24:3–4), while a pure heart speaks to inner sincerity. James is addressing people whose loyalty was divided—“double minded”—those trying to serve both God and self. This duality cannot stand in a true walk with Christ. Ellen White observed, “The greatest want of the world is the want of men… who do not fear to call sin by its right name… who are true and honest in the inmost soul” (Education, p. 57). Purity of heart, then, is not perfection, but integrity—living with honest devotion toward God without hidden compromise.

 

Finally, this passage is not just about moral behavior—it’s about reconciliation and revival. James is essentially calling for a revival of spiritual life through repentance and submission to God. The promise is sure: if we come sincerely, God always comes near. Ellen White beautifully encourages this revival when she says, “A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work” (Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 121). James 4:8 is not a cold rebuke but a divine invitation: a merciful God calling His children to turn, return, and be transformed.

You may be thinking your relationship with God is not as good as it should be. Do not be despondent. God is always ready and waiting for you to surrender all to Him. In essence, James 4:8 is a call to repentance, faith, and a wholehearted pursuit of God. It's a reminder that drawing near to God involves both outward actions and inward transformation.

Let us pray,

Father, our sovereign and sympathizing God, we want to thank you for the opportunity you have given us to draw close to you. Forgive us for the many times we have neglected to spend quality time with you through prayer and bible study. Grant us your peace, as we seek inward transformation and strengthen our relationship with you. May our lives depict a sincere Christlike character that will reflect our closeness with you. Thank you for your divine love, as we say thanks in Jesus' name. Amen