Drawing Near

I've started reading a book by John Bevere called Drawing Near.

The first chapter is titled The Greatest Invitation Of All Time.

Some interesting points:

What do Exodus 3:3, Mark 6:48 and 1 Sam 3 have in common?

"So Moses thought, 'I will go over and see this strange sight-why the bush does not burn up.' "

"He saw the disciples straining at their oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,"

1 Sam 3 about God calling Samuel 3 times before Samuel responded.


God calls, yes. In each of these verses, Moses, the disciples, Samuel, turned aside to answer the call of God.

Ex 3:4 " When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush..."

Mk 6:49 "but when they saw him walking on the lake, they....cried out"

The author hypothesized that the encounters above would not have happened had Moses not turned aside, or if the disciples did not call out to Jesus, or if Samuel had decided sleep was more important.

It costs something to turn aside to follow God's call. Putting aside the cares of the day, whether its gathering lost sheep, or fighting the storm, or just going back to sleep, and turning aside to encounter God, is something which God values.

"Draw near to me and I will draw near to you" James 4:8