READ: Mark 12:27-34

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” – James 4:8

When something is physically close it does not mean that it is spiritually close. In other words, one thousand miles of distance in the natural does not mean one thou- sand miles in the spirit. Something may be next door in the natural but may be thousands of spiritual miles away.

This is why someone can be close to a spiritual person but not be affected by the anointing on his life. Someone else may be thousands of miles away, and receive a greater blessing than someone who is in the house. Jesus said, “A prophet is not accepted in his own home.” This means that the gifts of the prophets are unable to spiritually penetrate people who are physically nearby. Somehow the familiarity increases the spiritual distance between the anointed and the one to receive the anointing. (Matthew 13:57).

There is something like distance within the realm of the spirit. Jesus once said to a man who came to Him, “ You are not far from the kingdom.” This saying by Jesus proves that you can be far or near to the kingdom (Mark 12:34). In other parts of the Bible other Scriptures speak of drawing near to God. Drawing near to God is not a physical thing. God is a Spirit, and cannot be approached by any physical or natural maneuver.

Psalm 65:4 speaks of the blessing of a man who is allowed to approach God. God chooses those He will allow to come near.