In this new series, we will examine the topic of knowing God.
As a believer and follower of Christ our greatest desire and goal should be to know and love God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Moses, the Old Testament prophet, and leader of the nation of Israel prayed that he might know the Lord.
Then Moses said to the LORD, "See, You say to me, 'Bring up this people.' But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.'
Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people." Exodus 33:12-13
After serving the Lord for decades, the apostle Paul clearly stated:
“…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death….” Philippians 3:10
Paul wanted to know Christ in a deeper way. He wanted to know Him even to the point of sharing in the sufferings of Christ (Colossians 1:24).
When Jesus prayed to the Father prior to giving His life for our redemption, He said: "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." John 17:3
This was of utmost importance to Jesus and as He prayed this most wonderful and holy High Priestly prayer. It should be of utmost importance to us as well.
Knowing God consists of spending time with Him in worship, prayer, study, communication, inquiry, thanksgiving, constant dialogue, and lingering in His presence.
We can only know someone by spending time with them, listening to them share their heart, their feelings, their dreams, their aspirations, their hopes, their goals, their griefs, their sorrows, their successes, their experiences, their likes, and dislikes.
God knows each one of us intimately. He knows us better than we know ourselves.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5
This is remarkable and mentally staggering. God knew us before we were born and has a unique calling and plan for our lives that will only be realized through an intimate relationship with Him and the Lord Jesus Christ.
How can we know God? How can we know Christ? We will look at this more closely in our next post. Until then, may God our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless and keep you.
James Brown 04/25/2023