6/30/2025
"But let him who glories glory in this, that he
understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD,
exercising loving kindness, judgment and
righteousness in the earth. For in these I do delight,
says the LORD."
Jeremiah 9:24
What exactly does it mean to understand and know God?
Evangelists coin the phrase "knowing God and making Him known" as the vision behind the call. Rightfully so, as how can one make someone known without first knowing that person intimately, having a deep and lasting friendship with that One? Naturally the answer is that it is impossible otherwise. But then there are many examples of those in scripture who have professed to speak on God's behalf, yet they do not know Him, and He says that He has not sent them. The consequences for that did not turn out well for the false prophets named in Jeremiah, as I read today. In our modern age there are those touting the name "prophet" who are followed religiously like sheep being led to the slaughter, and whose books and prophetic words supersede the scriptures. We must be careful to whom we listen, and we must study the word of God so we are not tricked into accepting lies, cunningly supported by a form of godliness but denying the true power of God. Seek for Him with your whole heart, and He will be found. Keep your eyes trained on Jesus as the Author and Finisher of your faith. As we seek to know God, we must be wise of the schemes of the enemy who seeks to destroy us, because he hates Jesus, so he hates us. His love is feigned for his own purposes, but Jesus' love is true, and He proved His love by dying for us, taking on Himself all the evil of this world, so we could have fellowship with God for eternity.
In my personal journey, growing in my relationship with the Lord, I know that it takes time, commitment, and surrender to God's will and plans. John 15 speaks of abiding in Christ, making our home in Him, as He has in us. Listen as John the Apostle speaks so eloquently the words of our Savior, the words of life:
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:1-5
Jesus has given us the Comforter, just as He promised the disciples. Holy Spirit teaches us, reminds us, of all Jesus did and said while He walked this earth. He convicts us if we stray, and He intercedes for us, as Jesus intercedes for us. When someone truly becomes acquainted with Jesus, understands Him, His message, His ferocious love for us, understands His birth, death, burial and resurrection, then he can begin to know Him. We love Him, because He first loved us. He gets our attention. He got mine. I wouldn't want to live my life any other way, than being in His presence, loving Him, being truly loved, just as I am, but transformed to a new life.
So often I have quoted from the writings of some of the late greats, because they understood who Jesus is and all that He has done and will continue to do for those who love Him, who delight to follow in His ways. Clothed in His righteousness, His tender mercies, humility, meekness, longsuffering, perseverance, forgiveness as He forgave us, and in His great love. Lamentations 3:22-23 says "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great in Your faithfulness."
Andrew Murray wrote about relationship with God in his book, Absolute Surrender:
“Being filled with the Spirit is simply this - having my whole nature yielded to His power. When the whole soul is yielded to the Holy Spirit, God Himself will fill it.”
He said, “I need to spend time with God even when I do not know what to pray.”
In his book, The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer said:
“O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, ‘Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.’ Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.”
A W Tozer made it his deepest desire to live in the presence of God, and He did. “To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love.”
Knowing Him is my greatest desire also.
