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Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
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Today’s message
God decided to move by the law of reciprocity. I deal with Him, and He responds in kind — for good or for correction. I remember childhood, a jar of cream cheese lined up to share soda. Everyone watching the measure. Deep down, it’s a cry for value. With God, there are no favorite children; there are measures of response. If I draw near, He draws near. If I distance myself, He distances Himself. I choose the attitude; I also choose how I will be treated by Him.
The Bible repeats this pattern. In 1 Samuel 2:30, He says: I honor those who honor me. In Leviticus 26:23-24, if someone opposes God, He also opposes — to correct and bring back. In 2 Chronicles 15:2, we hear: the Lord is with you while you are with Him. Psalm 18:25-26 shows that God reveals Himself according to the worshiper's posture. It’s not whim; it’s principle. God does not change. We define the distance: we seek and find; we leave and are left.
I want to show you four portraits of reciprocity
- Honor for honor: whoever honors the Lord is honored by Him.
- Opposition for opposition: whoever insists on resisting finds divine resistance.
- Proximity for proximity: God is while we are with Him.
- Revelation by posture: the faithful see faithfulness, the upright see integrity.
God does not show favoritism, but He shows favoritism towards attitudes.
Now, do not confuse love with pleasing. I told my son at eleven: nothing you do will make me love you more or less. Love is value. Pleasing is response. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God, and that walking in the flesh does not please Him. Jesus said He always does what pleases the Father. God's love is the same for all; His dealings with us are not. That changes when we choose to seek Him, obey, and honor.
How we define the measure of what we experience
- Enter the river: Ezekiel 47 shows waters from the ankle to the impassable — advance.
- Enlarge the containers: the widow filled jars and the oil accompanied the offering.
- Persist with the arrows: Joash stopped early and limited the victory; do not stop.
- Sow generously: whoever sows little will reap little; whoever sows much will reap much.
So, apply it. Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness; the rest will come at the right time. In Haggai, the people prioritized their houses and reaped frustration; when they took care of God's house, the harvest changed. God does not show favoritism, but He does show favoritism towards attitudes. Decide to please Him with fasting and prayer, presence, contribution, and simple obedience. Step into deeper waters. Do not wait for a flood to push you. Take the step today — and He will take steps in your direction.
Did you know
- In Ezekiel 47, the angel measures sections of 1000 cubits — about 500 meters — marking increasing depths.
- In Exodus 30, the ransom by counting was the same for all: 6 grams according to the sanctuary's weight, with no distinction between rich and poor.
- Three times a year, every man in Israel went up to the festivals (Exodus 34), with a promise of divine protection while prioritizing the Lord's presence.
Key phrases
- Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
- I honor those who honor me, but those who despise me I will despise.
- The Lord is with you while you are with Him.
- Whoever sows little will reap little, but whoever sows much will reap much.
Translated from the Portuguese original.
Seek
To seek today
Go deeper
Go deeper
Luciano Subirá | A RECIPROCIDADE DE DEUS
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