The question today is, how accessible are you to Jesus and him to you? Are there always obstacles in the way every time he calls upon you? Please read some excuses he heard himself from those who had things in their way.

18} "Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. 19} And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

20} And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 21} And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

22} But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. 23} And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. (Matthew 8:18-23 KJV).

Are you able to jump at the masters command without having to evade all life's obstacles in your way? Peter who had denied Jesus was not about to allow some water (no matter how turbulent) to reach the shore where he w

Again, Peter had already denied him at a distance (Matthew 26:58). This time, nothing would stand in his way of getting to Jesus. In my days of ministering to many people, I've seen them have many obstacles.

Many wives have unbelieving husbands who will not allow them to attend church at various times. I've met many kids who desire to go to church, but their parents want nothing to do with God. I've met spouses who go to separate churches.

I've met people who place their careers between themselves and Jesus. What does it profit you to gain everything but lose your own soul. We've heard the phrase many find themselves in. "So close and yet so far away."

I recall a friend of mine I had invited to come to church. He began to mention everything that was wrong about churches. He said to me, "Hey Pastor, please don't take this the wrong way, I would come to church, but there's to many hypocrites!"

I listened to his litany of negative stories about attending church. To his surprise I didn't disagree with him. He thought I would banter back and forth with him about the church being this perfect place.

But I simply told him, "Yes my friend, the church is a place filled with all kinds of imperfect people inside. But it's like a hospital where people go to get well." I also told him that he lacked vision to see who was on the inside.

Jesus is the great physician in this place that is a hospital. If he had attended, he would have heard passages from (Matthew 4:23-24 KJV). Please read it now into your spirit, family, or study group.

I finally explained to him what he didn't realize. That yes, there were hypocrites inside churches, but they were closer to God than he was. He sort of scoffed when I made that statement and "What do you mean?"

I told him that why he was on the outside and not looking in (attending), the hypocrites inside are closer inside where Jesus is. I then looked in his eyes and said, "Why are you allowing those hypocrites stand in your way from getting to Jesus?"

He then got very quiet and turned and walked away. Some months later he showed up and watched. He later became a regular. He at least became an observer of what was taking place inside. Jesus was there for him.

Many if you today are making all these New Years resolution plans that don't involve Jesus. You are building a type of proximity yet separation from him. God wants to eliminate that distance you have in your heart towards him.

There are other examples in the Bible of those who had distance with God but not without reach. Thinking of our main character Peter again, remember when Jesus came walking on the water when the disciples were in the boat?

Even during the storm around them, Jesus was nearby. Whether in the boat with them or out of the boat on the water, Peter found out the safest place to be is wherever Jesus is. (Matthew 8:23-27; 14:23-33; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18).


🗣📢 Last words: Beloved friends, there is no obstacle on this planet that has any distance that Jesus won't cross to meet us. Nothing can separate us from his love and care for us. (Romans 8:28, 35-39). Jesus says, "Come closer."

Yes, in the Old Testament, we were told to stand afar off in some instances. (Joshua 3:3-11). Just like the Israelites in the Old Testament, we need God’s forgiveness to cleanse our hearts and minds before we approach him.

Jesus became this distance to bring us closer than ever before. (Hebrew 4:15-16; 2 Corinthians 3:11-18). When Moses came down Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, his face was radiant from being in God’s presence.

Moses had to put on a veil to keep the people from being terrified by the brightness of his face. It kept them at a distance. I've met only a handful of people in my life that seemed to have this spiritual glow. (Exodus 34:29-35).

I realize there are more out there. But I could still approach them because of the love of Jesus that radiated from their faces. Here are some other examples of distance, but not without reach.

Jesus sees Nathanael while he was still under the fig tree (John 1:48).

Jesus calms the storm when the boat is in the middle of the sea(Mark 6:47-51).

Jesus heals the royal official’s son at the seventh hour while some distance away (John 4:50-53).

There were also people who did not allow great distance to keep them from meeting the LORD GOD. Someone named Jacob had a close encounter. (Genesis 32:24-30).

Enoch allowed nothing to divide his relationship with God. It was so close that God decided to just take him before he died. (Genesis 5:21-24). Why did God take him. (Read Hebrews 11:5). He lived longer than any patriarch.

The man who was paralyzed and couldn't walk bridged a divide with the help from his four friends. (Mark 2:1-5). Sometimes churches are so crowded without proper leaders, they may lose sight of serious needs.

This can lead people who feel they are not cared for to simply go away. I have pastored in a church where the special need of someone was neglected because of her mental acuity. They ignored her needs of fitting in the proper ministry area.

Sometimes those who feel neglected will turn away and the divide between them and God widens. Church leaders can sometimes become so self-indulgent that they miss those needs of others wanting to join them.

And of course, we can never forget the woman with the issue of blood. Her story is one of overcoming huge obstacles involving personal issues, rejection, without the ability to have social relationships. (Mark 5:24-34).

This woman was considered unclean. Imagine not being able to be close to anyone because your condition pushes everyone away. (Leviticus 15:25-27). I can recall a woman who had a gastritis problem that had an odorous smell.

Some people tried to avoid sitting in the same isle where she was. You can imagine how she felt. She felt divided among some in the church. Believe me, as a pastor, there can be many unpleasant things, but love presses in.

Sometimes people feel I'm too much of a misfit to go to church. Sometimes not having the right clothing in an upscale church where wealthy people attend can cause us to stay away. But Jesus always commands us to come closer to him.

[Sometimes we feel that our problems will keep us from God. But his love reaches through to us, no matter how impossible or terrible we think the situation is. We should never allow our fear to keep us from approaching him.]

The woman with the issue of blood suffered for twelve years. She got sick and tired of being sick and tired and reached out to the greatest physician on earth for healing.

[Jesus gave this woman a lifetime of peace. What a difference between the murderous Pharisees who wanted Jesus and cared more about their rigorous laws that pushed this woman far away from others.]

[Today, many people are vaguely familiar with Jesus, but nothing in their lives is changed or bettered by this passing acquaintance. Genuine faith involves action. Only an active faith can release God’s healing power.]

In military life before an individual ever considers serving in the armed forces, there's been that old sign with someone's finger pointing at you that says, "Uncle Sam Wants You!" Our creator has that same desire for us.

He sent his only Son (Jesus to seek and save those who are lost). (Romans 10:8-13). No matter how far away you think your relationship with God is, you can instantly bridge that divide. You can learn to persistently cling to God.

God has a target on us. It's our heart. It always has been and always will be. He desires we seek his heart with the same intensity. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Hebrews 8:10-12; 10:14-17; James 4:6-8).

However large or small the gap, it takes deliberate movement toward Christ. Whether 200 cubits or two, obedience brings the believer from toil to fellowship, from empty labor to abundant provision.

Just move in the direction where he is standing and the divided gulf will disappear. Get moving!


🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray to bridge the cap. "Heavenly Father, I thank you for today's up-close message to my distant heart. I have been fighting so many personal anxieties that have kept me immobilized and afraid to move.

But after today's message, I am encouraged to take steps in the direction of the only one who can heal my emotions and create in me a right spirit and renew my mind. Lord, help to reconcile with you my past hurts.

Help me to trust you to bring me back to forward progress. Write your unchanging word on my heart so I can walk in hope, even when circumstances are difficult. Help me grow deep roots of faith that hold me steady.

Lord Jesus, with you I know I can run through any spiritual adversary and leap over any wall that tries to divide and separate you from me. Thank you, Father, for bridging the biggest gap of all through the sacrifice of your Son for me.

Help me to see others as you see me. Break down walls that hinder my movement towards you. Jesus you my bridge to the Father. Soften hearts, today Lord, and make us bridge-builders for your kingdom, in Jesus name, Amen."


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