My grandson is a new cub scout. He was recently given a project to ask his pastor - that would be me - for ways that he could get nearer to God. He told me about this, and we planned a time for him to come over so that we could talk about it. So, being forewarned I thought about what I would tell him. There was a time when my answer would be about a daily time for Bible reading and prayer. However, that's no longer the case. The most important means of drawing near to God is the worship of the saints together on Sunday.
I realize that this runs counter to our familiar emphasis on the individual. But consider what the Bible says - and doesn't say. The Bible never commands the saints to have a daily time for Bible reading and prayer. I find that quite interesting. I think that it is a good habit, but it is not something that I could teach the people with a 'thus says the Lord', because He doesn't. On the other hand, corporate worship is assumed throughout the Scriptures. And no wonder. This is the time when God meets with His people in a special way. This is when we 'come into His presence[!] with thanksgiving', so that we can 'make a joyful noise to Him'. (Psalm 95.1,2)
The pattern was set at that first meeting at Mt. Sinai, continues with the role of the Tabernacle and the Temple where God dwelt with His people and then is still followed down to our day now that the Church is the new Temple. This is when we meet with our God in that unique way so that He might instruct us by the reading and preaching of the Word, feed our souls by the Lord's Supper and receive our praise and thanks in response to these and other blessings. The most important way to draw near to God is by attending and being engaged in Sunday worship with the rest of the saints.
The pattern was set at that first meeting at Mt. Sinai, continues with the role of the Tabernacle and the Temple where God dwelt with His people and then is still followed down to our day now that the Church is the new Temple. This is when we meet with our God in that unique way so that He might instruct us by the reading and preaching of the Word, feed our souls by the Lord's Supper and receive our praise and thanks in response to these and other blessings. The most important way to draw near to God is by attending and being engaged in Sunday worship with the rest of the saints.