In the musical My Fair Lady, Freddy sings about his feelings for Eliza Doolittle.

He is so in love that even the street where she lives is a special, magical place:

        “Does enchantment pour out of every door?

        No, it’s just on the street where you live.”

There is a bit of that feeling in this week’s Psalm.  David tells God:

“I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where your glory dwells.”

What made the street special for Freddy was the closeness to his love:

        “And Oh, the towering feeling, just to know somehow you are near!

        The overpowering feeling, that any second you may suddenly appear.”

Jesus promised that he and his Father would come and make their home with anyone who loves him and obeys his teaching (John 14:23).  By God’s Holy Spirit, Jesus is near to each one of us.  How do you experience Jesus’ closeness?

Jesus told his friends to talk to God in his name.  He told his enemies that anyone could find him in the Scriptures.

‘Read the Bible and Pray,’ is the cliché application to every sermon.  But the cliché – the emptiness of the words – comes about when we think of Bible-reading and prayer as tasks to be done.  There is a point to doing them!  I don’t think often enough of Bible reading and prayer as a chance to celebrate the closeness of Jesus.

Jesus is always near to you.  This week, take the opportunity to get close to Jesus, so that when trials come, you will know that he is near.

Alan Wood