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Why Still on Earth?
❖ To get more people to Heaven (Matt. 18: 18-20)
❖ To become more like Jesus. (Col. 1:28)
Saints & Kids
❖ Begin life as infants. Parents/God love them first
❖ Need lots of nurture by parents (God)
❖ Both need to consistently respond to parents/God to mature into their full destiny & identity
Major NT Theme❖ “I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is
formed in you!” (Gal. 4:19)
❖ “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation. “(1 Peter 2:2)
❖ “Consider it all joy…so that you may be perfect [telios) and complete. (James.1:2-4)
❖ “…warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (telios)in Christ Jesus. “ (Col. 1:28)
God’s Love Starts All
❖ He chooses us before time began (Eph. 1:4-5)
❖ “We love, because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
❖ “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him…” (John 6:44, 65)
❖ “You have not chosen Me, I have chosen you.” (John 15:16)
God Seeks Sinners
❖ Romans 3:10-12: “As it is written,there is none righteous, not even one;
❖ There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless;
❖ There is none who does good, there is not even one.”
God Seeks Saints
❖ As the Good Shepherd seeks lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7)
❖ As a loving Father: “FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” (Heb. 12:6)
❖ As the Merciful God: “Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him. (Is. 30:18)
What God Wants From Us as His Children
❖ To love Him > anything❖ To abide in Him daily❖ To live mainly for Him❖ To obey His commands❖ To mature
Just Like Raising Kids
❖ We initiate the love❖ We set boundaries &
expectations❖ Kids must respond well to us
to mature
Drawing Near Means
❖ Giving God whatever He wants
❖ Letting Him be our greatest treasure, our deepest satisfaction, the supreme joy of our life
❖ Spending lots of quality time with Him
❖ Seeking to obey Him always
❖ Allowing God to mature us moment by moment
Drawing Near Happens When We…
❖ Admit to ourselves that we need more from God
❖ Ask God to help us draw near to Him
❖ Meditate on the scriptures (15-30 Minutes/day)
❖ Talk and listen to God ( 30 minutes/day)
❖ Are quick to obey, confess and forgive
What this Story Teaches
❖ God loves all of His children but He has to treat them differently depending on how they respond to Him.
❖ There is always more of God’s love and blessings for those who draw near to Him
❖ “The Lord longs to be gracious to us.” He waits for us to draw near so he can pour out His love on us.
What Is Our Far Country?
❖ Fears we think we have to keep
❖ Anger we feel we need
❖ Sins we don’t think we can live without
❖ Distractions that leave little room for God in our lives
❖ Work, TV, friends, video games, sports, possessions, the pursuit of money