Bible Devotions for Living

As a believer in Christ your faith and relationship with Him should constantly be deepening and growing. Let’s talk about it.

The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him. (Jn 14:21)

Jesus made it clear that you are loving Him as you learn God’s Word (commands) and live by it (keep it). As you love Him, the Father will love you and Jesus will reveal more of Himself to you. Notice there is an action needed on your side as shown in this simple verse:

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you … (Jms 4:8)

As you try to draw near to God through Bible study and try to live a holy life by following His Word, Jesus will draw near to you and reveal more of Himself to you.

Nothing illustrates this better than a close look at Abraham’s growing relationship with God as He put more into it.

Abraham was called by God to leave Haran and go where He was sending him (Gen 12:1-3) and he obeyed. Next we see God appearing to Abraham (Gen 12:7) and he built an altar to Him. Notice the progression from the first encounter to the second. God went from calling Abraham to appearing to him. That was a move closer and it came because Abraham obeyed. Then we see a few chapters where Abraham is walking with God and then in chapter 15 there is an amazing encounter. God comes to Abraham in a vision where they have a conversation (Gen 15:1-20)! In that conversation, God makes a promise to Abraham in a magnificent way to make him into a great nation. Again, this scene shows a growing and deepening relationship between Abraham and God that is based on part on Abraham’s obedience and devotion. In chapter 17, God appears to Abraham again and told him more details about what would happen in the future. Their relationship continued to become deeper and closer. In chapter 18 their relationship showed more sign of growth when the Lord appeared to Abraham physically and shared a meal and conversation with him. During that conversation, the Lord revealed to Abraham His plans for Sodom citing that He did not want to hide His plans from Abraham. Abraham’s relationship with God had grown to the point where God was appearing to him physically and sharing His plans. That is the sign of a close relationship.

Abraham’s relationship with God grew from not knowing God at all to meeting with Him face-to-face having conversations and God sharing His thoughts. Abraham’s relationship grew like that because of his faith, reverence, and obedience. Your relationship with God can grow and deepen too:

The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him. (Jn 14:21)

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you … (Jms 4:8)

Read and follow His Word in obedience and He will reveal more of Himself to you, and you will draw closer together.

Examine yourself:

Is your relationship with Jesus growing and getting deeper? How?

Does your heart for God and the way you live show you want a closer relationship?

Read about Abraham (Genesis chapters 12 through 18) to see how he pursued and obeyed God and how the Lord responded by getting closer.

What things can you do according to Scripture to get closer to God and have Him draw near you?

⁶ If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 Jn 1:6-7)