By Dr. Charles F. Stanley
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 such behavior be foolish? Yet some Christians do just that.
Despite accumulating vast knowledge about God and the Bible, they miss out on rich fellowship with the Father, the best friend anyone could ever have.
It is possible to fill our lives with spiritual information and activities—all of which are good—but fail to develop a close relationship with the Lord. Take a quick inventory to see if this might be true of you: Do you attend church only out of a sense of duty? Do you pray with lofty or repetitive words rather than speaking to God from the heart? Do you serve solely out of obligation?
In Scripture, we read about many people whose personal encounter with the Lord was energizing and life-changing. Abraham, Gideon, Moses, and Paul were just a few who spoke with Him one-on-one (Genesis 7:4; Judges 6:12, 14; Exodus 3:2; Acts 9:3-6). We probably 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 illuminate its meaning, we can hear directly from our heavenly Father.
The Bible tells us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). Walking closely with the Lord takes commitment and time. Start now by dedicating a portion of your day to meeting with your Friend.
Scripture Of The Day: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” - James 4:8
Dr. Charles F. Stanley, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta and founder of In Touch Ministries, is a New York Times best-selling author who has written more than 35 books. “In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley” can be heard around the world via radio and television broadcasts, the handheld In Touch Messenger and the ministries…
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