You will only be as close to Jesus as you want to be.

It’s true. You will only be as close to Jesus as you want to be.

Jesus is calling you to come closer to Him. He yearns for you to respond. He yearns for you to allow His love to transform you into the person He created you to be.

Jesus is inviting you to come closer, but you have the right to decide whether or not you will respond. You will only be as close to Jesus as you want to be.

There are levels of closeness.

I saw this truth illustrated in real life while visiting a friend several years ago. Mary explained to me that she had three dogs, all the same breed. She loved all three dearly. Yet only one of her dogs would come close enough to receive and enjoy her love. Mary said the Lord had shown her that her three dogs were a picture of different ways we can respond to His love.

Mary’s first dog seemed content to sit on the other side of the room and watch her. The second dog would come closer, but sit just beyond her reach. The third dog, however, would joyfully bound toward her, jump into her lap, and shower her with kisses. This dog made Mary’s heart sing.

We see the same picture in the New Testament accounts of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Among Jesus’ twelve disciples, only three appeared to be part of their Master’s inner circle. Of those three, only one seemed to truly know Jesus’ love. John, who leaned against Jesus during the Last Supper, was also the only disciple present at the foot of the cross during Jesus’ crucifixion. John called himself, “the disciple whom Jesus loved”.

Did Jesus love all His disciples? Yes, He did. But only John seemed to believe it. After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter also came to believe. Jesus appeared to Peter and forgave him. His love and forgiveness overwhelmed Peter and drew him closer, transforming Peter’s life.

Why don’t we come closer to Jesus?

Like Peter, we may not understand the extent to which we need our Savior. We may not understand the depth of Jesus’ love for us, which He demonstrated by His sacrifice on the cross.

There are other reasons why we don’t come closer to Jesus. But I believe that a revelation of Jesus’ love would overcome them all.

If we had a revelation of Jesus’ love, we would run to Jesus, and not away from Him. When tempted to sin, we would run to Jesus for strength to resist. If we sinned in our thoughts, words, or actions, we would repent and run to Jesus for His cleansing forgiveness.

If we had a revelation of Jesus’ love, we wouldn’t get bitter or angry with Him during trials or in the face of loss. We would believe what Scripture says. Jesus’ love for us never changes and nothing can separate us from His love.

Hebrews 13:8

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Romans 8:35,37-39

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The thought of being close to Jesus may spark a deep yearning within you…or it may make you feel uncomfortable. Whatever your response, remember that Jesus’ love for you never changes. Nothing can separate you from His love. Jesus is calling you to come closer. How will you respond?

How can you come closer to Jesus?

• Is there something keeping you from coming closer to Jesus? Pray and ask the Lord to reveal what it is. Ask Him to help you overcome it.
• Grow in your knowledge of Jesus. Read through the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).

Do you have a comment, question, or testimony to share?

Your questions and input can be an encouragement to other readers. Please share your thoughts in the comment box below.

Thank you!