The most important attitude that the gospel requires of us is to draw near to God. Since we cannot do it by our own strength, the Bible calls this act of coming to God for grace faith. The outward expression of this faith is earnestly seeking God, while the inner essence of faith is having full confidence in His goodness.
“And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV)
Believing that God is there does not simply mean acknowledging the existence of a deity. Considering the situation of the Jewish Christians who received the Book of Hebrews, they had been praying for a long time in the midst of severe suffering, yet it seemed like God was silent. In such moments, doubt could creep in—”Is God really there? Is He listening to my prayers?” But faith says, “No, God surely exists. He still loves me, and He hears my prayers.” It also means believing that God will, in some way, reward those who seek Him, ensuring that their pursuit is not in vain.
Yet, drawing near to God is our responsibility. “Remain in me, as I also remain in you.” (John 15:4, NIV) The reason we are told to do this first is that God has already been doing it. He is always waiting for us with open arms.
The abundance we experience in life depends on whether or not we draw near to God in faith. Many years ago, my church granted me a five-month sabbatical. Since my children were young and could not take time off from school, I simply stayed home. During that period, I intentionally neglected my spiritual disciplines and often quarreled with my wife. In ministry, we had been careful and patient with each other, but during this break, we did not make such efforts. As a result, I lost my inner peace. I realized that this must be how unbelievers live. Yet, even in those moments, God’s love and grace remained unchanged. Whenever I called out “Father”, I felt a deep, moving sense of His presence.
As the sabbatical drew to an end, I began to worry—”Can I continue my ministry in this state?” The congregation expected me to return spiritually renewed, yet I felt more distant than ever. When I finally stood on the pulpit to lead worship again, I felt God’s powerful hand holding me.
Through this experience, I realized that while God’s love and grace are unchanging. To experience His power and abundance, I must draw near to Him. There is a huge difference between living each day receiving His grace and living without it. This is why we must learn how to live by faith—it must become a part of us. When we receive His grace daily, we are transformed and can experience a rich life where God actively works in and through us.
