Momentum For Monday, May 20th 2024

“And this is the way to have eternal life—by knowing you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth!” (John 17:3)

I went back to college in the fall of 2019 and should be graduating soon (grades aren't quite final). I was so nervous going back, but I wanted to study something I'm passionate about and know I'd always use, so I enrolled at a Bible college. Let me tell you, as grateful as I am, the road has been long and exhausting.

One of the perks has been having professors that pray over you and genuinely care (at least it seems that way). I haven't enjoyed every class, but there were many I did love learning from. However, one thing I kept in the back of my mindnin every class was that I learned years ago was that "proximity doesn't create closeness." I'll explain what I mean by this.

As much as I loved studying about God and Scripture and several things in between, those things didn’t produce intimacy in my relationship with God. I could study, read, and do all my assignments with all the academic Christian terms, but it didn't create a closeness with God. That had to be invested in on a separate time and schedule.

No amount of knowledge could replace actually spending time with God. Spending intentional, personal time with God in prayer and Scripture is where true knowledge is formed. Doing life with God is the best classroom. All the other studies I did just supplemented it.

But maybe you didn't study at the same type of school I did. Maybe you never did anything beyond high school. This principle can still apply with church. No amount if religion or time spent at church replaces an actual relationship with God. I've seen and even fallen into the trap of time spent around God equating being good standings with Him.

Knowing God takes honesty, intentionality, and time. There's no short cuts or osmosis to it. Creating and prioritizing time for God is necessary. Proximity does not create closeness.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

(2 Peter 3:18)