The word “to know” in many
places in the Bible has the same meaning, although it refers to both our
relationship to a mate and to our God. The meaning of this word “to know” is a
bond more intimate and personal than any other human relationship. For
instance, Adam “knew” his wife, which resulted in the birth of their son Cain (Genesis
4:1). This same word, with all of its
intensity, is also used in other verses pertaining to our relationship with the
Lord. This relationship leads to a blessed life now and in eternity (John
17:3).
Christians can understand
and “know” God in the spiritual sense with the same intimacy Adam “knew” Eve (Jeremiah
9:24). We can have this same passionate,
cherished and personal relationship with our God. We not only know about God,
or believe in Him, because even the demons know and believe (James 2:19). We have a deep, personal “knowing” relationship with
God that transcends the intimacy of any human relationship. Not a physical relationship
as in marriage, but a reciprocal emotional and spiritual intimacy that fills
our soul and our spirit to overflowing (Luke 6:38).
However, so many people
never develop this connection with the God of the universe. A friendship and a
marriage take time and effort. A deep, personal relationship with God is more
powerful and fulfilling than any human relationship. Yet, Christians take God
for granted. We use Him like a mall to provide the things we want. We try to
use Him as a shield from the unpleasant side of life. We nag Him about our pet
peeves and we harangue Him to bring peace to the world and to fix our other
altruistic causes.
However, we rarely take even
a moment of our time to express a word of praise for all He has done and is
doing in our life. Here is the real question! How many times do we just praise
Him for who He is, apart from what He does? How many minutes in the day do we
spend giving Him the praise and honor and glory that is due His name (Psalm 29:2, 66:2, 96:8)? We often
spend more time longing for a fulfilling human relationship, which is not
possible as long as we are self-centered humans, than we spend in the
relationship we have with God.
Since we cannot see God, feel His arms around us or actually hear his voice, we put a relationship with Him in a sub-category in our thoughts. We say, “Oh yes, I love the Lord; I claim His promises for my life.” We may also spend countless hours serving Him in ministry to our church and community. However, how much time do we actually spend “knowing” Him, sitting quietly in His presence and acknowledging that He is Lord of all (Psalm 46:10, 24:1)?
There are some Christians
who do take their relationship with God seriously. They sit in His presence
throughout the day and actually feel His love pouring over them like a
waterfall. They spend time reading His Word and meditating on (contemplating)
what they read. Words of praise are never far from their thoughts and lips.
They live in the Spirit and walk by the Spirit every moment of the day (Galatians 5:16, 25).
They recognize that they no
longer live in their body, because Christ is living in them and through them (Galatians 2:20). They pray without ceasing and their thoughts are not
centered on the world around them, but on God’s will for them in this world.
They work and play with the realization that God is using their body, soul and
spirit for His purposes. They have few desires of their own, but they live to
fulfill God’s desires in their life.
It is not that they are so religiously
minded that they are no earthly good. They live and love everyone around them
completely and fully as God uses them to bless those He places in their life.
They actually find it more fulfilling to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). When they have a need, they either meet it, they ask
someone to help them to fill it or they turn it over to God to provide it in His
way and timing. This way, their focus is constantly on walking in the will of
God moment by moment throughout the day.
Moses felt this same longing for intimacy with God (Exodus 33:13). King David passionately sought the Lord (Psalm 63:1-3, 84:1-2,). Paul considered everything in his life useless when compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus (Philippians 3: 8-11). Elijah enjoyed this intimacy and God sent a flaming chariot from heaven to bring Elijah home (2 Kings 2:11). Enoch had this intimate, personal relationship with God, and he never tasted death. He was walking with God along the road, and God just took him home to heaven (Genesis 5:24).
It is possible for all of us to have this
union with God through salvation through Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:7-10). To start, confess any known sin in your life and
totally surrender your life to God, read God’s Word
throughout the day, spend daily time in prayer, and then wait on God and listen to the lover of our soul as
you go about fulfilling His purpose for your life (1 Chronicles 22:19; Matthew 22:37;
Psalm 103:4; Jeremiah 29:11).
Prayer:
Lord God, we give You
praise, honor and glory for who You are. We thank You for the multitude of
blessings You pour out on us every moment of every day. We thank You for
allowing us to represent You in our world and for helping us to make life
better for those You give us the privilege of serving. Pour out Your love in
our life and allow us to recognize that it is no longer us, but You living
through us (Galatians 2:20). Remind us to constantly center our focus on You.
Thought for the Day:
"As the deer pants for
streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for
the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” - Psalm 42:1-2