…we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. (Romans 5:1-2, NIV)
At every PGA Tour event, you will find spectators with a variety of access passes. All can roam the tournament grounds, watching the play from behind the ropes or in the grandstands.
Others may have entrée to special areas, where food, drink, and cool air are provided. Some of these are corporate tents, where big companies host guests in a relaxed atmosphere that may or may not be so much about the golf.
They tiptoe around in their faith, hoping not to disturb God, lest he not be happy they have come.Those with truly elevated access are the families, caddies, officials, and media members allowed to walk inside the ropes. Here they get unimpeded looks at the action and may even get a chance to talk with the players in the midst of their rounds.
Finally, there are the players themselves. They may walk into special “players only” dining areas in the clubhouse or go hide out in the locker room. It’s here sometimes that we get Sunday afternoon glimpses of clubhouse leaders texting their friends or nervously watching the TV monitors to see if their lead will hold.
When it comes to your access to God, what level of closeness would you say you are allowed?
Many who have grown up in religious settings aren’t so confident in the permission they have to approach God. They recognize him as the Creator and even the active King of that creation, but they have no certainty of available intimacy. They tiptoe around in their faith, hoping not to disturb God, lest he not be happy they have come.
The writings of Paul in several places should make us aware of a much different view of our place with the Father who is God.
There is, we should first explain, a contingency to this view. It is not whether we have accomplished enough to make an impression on God, or whether we have the right spiritual pedigree. It not even whether we have done works in his name (see Matthew 7:21-23). It is simply this: We must come to the Father on the basis of faith in the Son. Jesus is our all-access pass.
When we do this, however, we read not only in Romans 5, but also in Ephesians 2 and Ephesians 3 and Hebrews 4, that we may confidently approach the Lord. Thayer’s lexicon makes this note surrounding the Greek word prosagōgē, which is translated to mean access or approach: “That friendly relationship with God whereby we are acceptable to him and have assurance that he is favorably disposed toward us.” What a wonderful picture! What a confidence-building assurance! What a reason to get moving today—toward God himself!
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Jeff Hopper
August 16, 2016
Copyright 2016 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.