In many articles on the Adelphicare web site we have stressed that it is our connection with God that is vital to our closeness. And we know this in many aspects of our life. All our relationships involve connection. If we have good friends and family we relate to them, we confide in them, we have frequent association with them. One person has described connection with God as a “deep, intimate relationship.” We know that our most worthwhile life associations centre around deep, intimate relationships. Such a connection with God is the same thing. We know that God is always willing for connection and closeness. It is up to us to develop this closeness from our end.

The Apostle James summed it up this way:

"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." (James 4:8)

Meditation

King David said “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” (Psalm 119:97). And this, of course, was not just formal law. Strong’s Concordance suggests that one of the meanings of the Hebrew word is ‘Teachings’. We meditate on the whole of God’s teachings found in His word.

Working in community projects together in God’s service

There are many occasions in the Scriptures when God’s people worked together in worship and communal projects. There are examples in the Old Testament where the people were involved in building the Ark (although in this case it was just one family – Noah’s). People built the Tabernacle, and the Temple. One of the really telling examples is in the New Testament when the Apostle Paul motivated many of the ecclesias (often with Gentile converts) to collect financial assistance for the ecclesia in Jerusalem. (2 Corinthians 8-9) There is a beautiful verse in chapter 9 (v.2). In speaking to the Corinthians Paul said, “For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year “you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.” This is a wonderful example of collective support to help other brothers and sisters. This inevitably brought them closer to God because they were demonstrating Christlike behaviour as a group.

Communal worship and working together is certainly encouraged in the Scriptures.

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.(Hebrews 10:24-25)

There is no doubt that collective service and working together will help stimulate each other in our getting closer to God.

Bible study

We sometimes shy away from the need to study the Scripture and often cite the idea that we need to be practising Christians rather than ‘academic’ Christians. But there is a fallacy with such a limiting Christlike experience. Jesus himself said: “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me.” (John 5:39) The original Greek word suggests ‘search’. So, we continually search the Scriptures because they will give us, with God’s assistance, what is necessary for eternal salvation. And the Scriptures include directions on how we can serve God. So, our daily life becomes a matter of searching the Scriptures and applying what we discover in our lives.

Worship

The worship of God is vital in our connection with Him. Again, the Psalmist said: "Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” (Psalm 95:1-2) This honours God. And, if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. This is active service. Participating in communal worship and private devotion helps us to honour and glorify God.

In Matthew 18:20 Jesus declares, "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." This assurance underscores the spiritual presence and power that accompany collective worship.

The early Christian church exemplified this principle through regular communal meetings. Acts 2:42 describes the practices of the early believers: "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." These gatherings were essential for teaching, fellowship, and mutual development and creating a strong sense of community among believers.

It is important for us to connect with God in all of these ways. If we connect on a daily basis in as many ways as we can, our closeness to Him will become even closer and our life will become richer and more peaceful. God has promised peace:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

A more Christlike life

Our attempt to be more Christlike in our life through the various activities outlined above will certainly help us get closer to God. Serving others in love, following Christ's example of selflessness and compassion will decidedly contribute.

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. (1 Samuel 12:24)

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10-11)

Faith and trust

Getting closer to God also involves faith and trust. Engaging in the activities listed above will foster this connection. In faith we believe that God will always be with us and guide us. In trust we realise that God will guide us in the most appropriate ways. We need to have faith in God and believe that He will always be with us because we are trying to get closer to Him.

Recognition of the way God has already worked in our lives through our life experiences can also help us to get closer to Him because we can see His intervention. This can involve us realising that God guides our paths – in work, home, family; in illness – helping us through a very severe and testing health time. God guides us even though we may not recognise this at the time. For example, an unplanned event in our life may demonstrate years later that this helped us in a way we did not think possible. It became absolutely certain that God was guiding our life. And sometimes we can see it in the lives of others – our family and close friends.

Obedience, errors and forgiveness

Another way of getting closer to God is to be obedient to Him. He made it clear in the Old Testament that He will reward obedience.

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine. (Exodus 19:5)

And in the New Testament we know that we get closer to Him by loving Him and keeping His commandments.

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2:3-6)

Being disobedient separates us from God but repentance leads to forgiveness.

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18-19)

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Repentance

We all sin, and we become extremely remorseful about our sin. Yet, we have God’s assurance that if we repent God will freely pardon us.

Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)