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closer to God

Mark 12:34
"And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, He said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask Him any question."

Today’s verse shows that the scribe had rightly grasped the heart of the Law and the priority of inward devotion over outward ritual. That understanding placed him near the truth of the Gospel. Commentators note, however, that he was not yet fully in the Kingdom, because he had not yet received Jesus as the Messiah or committed himself to follow Him. The passage reminds us that intellectual agreement with God’s moral requirements is an important step, but entrance into the Kingdom requires personal faith and submission to Christ.

We want to follow Jesus’ example: to stoop and serve others in humility and charity, even to wash one another’s feet. Jesus is not handing us rungs on a ladder we climb by our own effort. He is giving us a pattern to follow.

So as we study the acrostic GRACED:

Go to God in prayer daily.
Read God’s Word daily.
Attend worship regularly.
Connect in a study group.
Engage in service.
Dedicate yourself to the tithe and beyond.

Keep this pattern in the front of your mind. These are proven ways to grow closer to God. Adopt them, and you will not be far from the kingdom of God. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and you will have eternal life in heaven.
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