Covered and Close

Well, goodness gracious, friend, I sho’-nuff’ was hopin’ you’d stop by today. So, pull up a chair and rest yourself a lil’ ol’ moment. I’ve been thinkin’ about how the Lord brings us near, even when we once stood far off, the way a lil’ ol’ stray calf wanders from the herd until the rancher gently guides it back. Some of us spent years driftin’ like an ol’ woodpecker peckin’ on the wrong tree not knowin’ how close to Him God wanted us to be.

Ephesians 2:13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” That tells us that before Jesus saved us, we weren’t just wanderers. We were under wrath, standin’ in the path of judgment like a lil’ ol’ deer standin’ frozen in the headlights. But Christ stepped in, took the judgment Himself, and pulled us right on into safety.

Some folks git saved because they don’t want to go to hell. Friend, that’s a mighty fine reason. But salvation ain’t just about avoidin’ wrath. It’s more about bein’ brought near, held secure, and covered by the blood of Jesus. And Colossians 1:20 says, “Having made peace through the blood of His cross.” That there means Christ didn’t just rescue us. He plum reconciled us. He downright made peace where there once was distance.

You might say, “I have blown it so many times since I gave my life to Christ.” But the moment you turned from sin and placed your faith in Jesus, His blood covered you completely. Past, present, and future. A child of God may git to stumblin’, but that child can’t stay content in sin. The Spirit nudges, convicts, and guides like a shepherd steer­in’ a stubborn lil’ ol’ sheep away from danger and plum gits that lil’ sheep right back into the fold.

Father, thank You for bringin’ us near through the blood of Christ. Thank You for forgivin’ us, securing us, and keepin’ us close. Help us live with gratitude, obedience, and joy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Friend, you go on now and git on down that path that takes you into the rest of your daily doin’s with confidence steadier than a weathered fence post sunk down deep in some real good cement. Remember that you ain’t far off anymore. You are plum near, you are real loved, and you are sho’-nuff’ covered. You’ve gotta be walkin’ in that there real truth, breathin’ easy, and lettin’ His peace settle over you like evenin’ light settles itself across a quiet open pasture.

With joy,

Gwen