Tag: Knowing God
The God who Hears!
Scripture reading for July 16th: Psalm 20-22, 1st Corinthians 8
Key Scriptures: Psalm 20:1-2,4-5 “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the Name of the God of Jacob protect you! May He send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!”. . .”May He grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.”
David made holy petitions as he prayed for those he loved and lead. David knew that the ultimate protector was the Lord of Heaven. David understood that each person had access to God’s throne and could find help and salvation there. His prayer was that God would grant heart’s desires and answer each petition. Amen!
1st Corinthians 8:2-3 “If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.”
Prayer: Lord, Thank You for hearing and answering prayers of Your people. Help me to know You and love You more each day. Amen.
God tests the heart!
Scripture reading for January 9th: Genesis 22-24, Matthew 7
Key Scriptures: Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and do many mighty works in Your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”
Jesus warned His disciples that superficial religion and good works were of no value without a personal relationship of faith and obedience. We may profess His Name, but not know Him. We may do mighty works, but God will not be fooled about the true condition of our souls. All faith and works will be tested by God’s seeing eyes!
Genesis 22:1-3 “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and his son Isaac.”
Prayer: Lord, I want to truly know you. Through Your all-seeing eyes, bring my hidden sins and evil motives to light that I might walk with You in truth. Amen
Love one another!
Scripture reading for November 23rd: 1st John 3
“See how great is the love that the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! . . .Dear friend, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1st John 3:1-3)
John encouraged the Church with a revelation of their identity–children of God! What great love that believers have had ‘lavished’ on them: Adopted into God the Father’s family and given an inheritance in His eternal kingdom! We don’t yet fully comprehend all that this means. The full revelation will come when Jesus Christ appears again and we will be instantly changed to have glorious bodies like His body! (1st Corinthians 15:51-54) The hope of His appearing should result in an eager desire in each believer to be pure and holy when He comes. “Without holiness, no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)
Practical holiness involves love. “This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. . . . .We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” (1st John 3:11,14) Love of our brothers is not an option in the kingdom of God and Christ. We are deceiving ourselves if we say we love God and hate our brothers. Jesus laid His life down for His brothers and we must do likewise. We can test ourself: Do I love my brother (or sister?) Our identity leads to this response to Christ’s love: “Love one another!”
Knowing God!
Scripture reading for August 10th: Jeremiah 21-25
Many people claim to know God and speak for Him. Jeremiah’s day was no different from ours. There were many self-appointed prophets giving a message of peace and safety to people who were living in sin and idolatry. (Jeremiah 14:13-15) These were not pagans, but people whose ancestors made a covenant with the Lord to walk in faith and obedience. What does it mean to really know God?
Jeremiah used the example of King Shallum (Jehoahaz) , son of Josiah, who had gone into captivity. He focused on building a bigger palace and exploited the people of God for his own gain. “Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father (Josiah) have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy so all went well. Is that not what it means to know Me?” declares the Lord? “But your eyes and your heart are set on dishonest gain, on shedding of innocent blood and on oppression and extortion.”” (Jeremiah 22:15-17) This wicked king was sent ahead into captivity as an example to the people; Jeremiah used his failure to follow his godly father as an example to the people.
Knowing God is very practical. It is humbly following the ways of truth and justice laid out by God in His law and word. It is being merciful to the poor and needy. It is confronting injustice and defending those whose innocent blood is being shed. It is refusing to be under the oppression of sin and unbelief, but truly knowing the heart of God by faith in His holy word!
We must be vigilant today concerning our own knowledge of God. He has given us His word and His Holy Spirit to take that word and reveal a true knowledge of God to each person. No longer do we need to be deceived by self-appointed prophets or political leaders. We are each called to live by God’s word and speak truth to our neighbors. We are to live a practical life that demonstrates we know God by the power of the Holy Spirit. Some leaders of our nation and even some leaders of God’s church are speaking lies that take innocent life and oppress and extort from God’s people. Check out their lives and fruit!