DISTANCING!

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

DISTANCING!

John 6:66-67

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

John 11:53-54

53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

           Only twice do we see the phrase “walked no more.” The first time Jesus is abandoned by those who found His teachings hard to accept. It was not that they were hard to understand but hard to apply. Without mental and emotional resolution, they walked no more with Him.

           The second time we see the phrase is when Jesus distances Himself from the Jews and draws even closer to His own disciples. Outreach was over! In-reach had begun.

           As Jesus was preparing to depart this world and return to the Father, there was a winnowing of relationships. Some left Him while others drew even closer to Him. I’ve seen it and I’ve also experienced it.

Near To The Heart Of God

There is a place of quiet rest,

Near to the heart of God.

A place where sin cannot molest,

Near to the heart of God.

Refrain

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,

Sent from the heart of God,

Hold us who wait before Thee

Near to the heart of God.

Dear Lord, when close friends distance themselves, keep me near to the heart of God. AMEN