Kidzablaze Devotions

Jeremiah 24:7

7 `I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.

Many of us have been blessed with close friends. Imagine if we never spent time with them but instead just thought and talked about how wonderful these special people are. Wouldn’t it be strange? Yet some Christians do just that. Though they accumulate knowledge about God, they miss out on rich fellowship with their heavenly Father, the best friend anyone could ever have.

It is possible to fill our life with spiritual information and activities—all of which are good—but fail to develop a close relationship with God. Scripture tells of many people whose personal encounter with Him was energizing and life-changing. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Gideon, the Samaritan woman, and Paul are a few who spoke with Him one-on-one (Genesis 7:4; Genesis 12:2; Exodus 3:2; Judges 6:12; John 4:1-42; Acts 9:3-6). We don’t expect dramatic “burning bush” experiences today, yet all believers should still have precious, intimate times with God. Whenever we open His Word and invite the Holy Spirit to teach us, we can hear directly from our Maker.

James 4:8 tells us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”  Walking closely with the Lord takes commitment and time, but it is essential if we want to grow in Christlikeness.