Daily Devotions
Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. Romans 5:2
Many people ask, “Why does God seem so far away? I pray but He doesn’t seem to hear me. It’s the same everywhere. Government seems so big and bureaucracy so tangled that I can’t get anyone to listen to me or help me. I have the same problem in the large company where I work. Everyone seems so inaccessible. Even God seems to fall into the same pattern.”
Paul writes of Christ in Romans 5, “Through Him we have gained access.” God is not far away. Jesus Christ came into this world and bridged the gap by His death on the cross. We have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Through Christ we have immediate access to God. The Biblical word “access” describes a priest cleansed by sacrifice so he can go into God’s presence, or a defendant brought before a judge and acquitted, or a subject brought directly into the presence of the king for a private audience. We have direct access to the Father. No red tape. No appointments necessary. No obstacles or delays. We have access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. Robed in Christ’s righteousness, we stand before God every day with full and free access to His mercy and grace.
God may seem far away. Our prayers may seem to go unanswered. But Paul assures us that we have access and that God speaks to us through His Word and sacraments. Share God’s gracious answer with those who are asking, “Why does God seem so far away?”
PRAYER: Thank You, Lord God, for being near me and answering my prayers. Amen.
(Devotions from “My Daily Devotion” by Dr. Stephen J. Carter, copyright 1988 CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. For ordering information, please Contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit www.cph.org.)