Thursday, February 02, 2006

Why is it important to know God?

Do you realize that we could never have known God except that He chose to make Himself known to us? Doesn't that just kind of take your breath away? The Creator of everything desired to make Himself known to you and me. Unbelievable!

The Lord knows everything about us, the smallest detail of our lives is known to Him. He even knows the things about us that we don't even know about ourselves!! (Read Psalm 139.) But, do you know anything about God? Anything factual that is? Not just some person's opinion of Him?

Remember that God cannot be divided into parts. God is one, complete and perfect. It is to an intimately alive, all encompassing reltationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that we are called.

Just exactly why does it behoove us to know what God is like? Let's look at some Scripture.

The first one is Daniel 11:32, "By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action."

Read Daniel 3:8-30. This is an illustration of the truth just stated above. The knowledge of God which they possessed enabled them to endure what was before them. What area in your life do you need strength to stand firm? By what means do you think that need will be met?

There is another effect the knowledge of God has on a person's life. Look at this sample of verses. "Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you" Job 22:21. "The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You" Isaiah 26:3. And, Ephesians 2:14 states, "For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall." In what circumstance do you lack peace? Is it possible for you to have peace? How so?

Proverbs 9:10 is an excellent verse which states another important reason we need to know God. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

A person who knows God shall become free as stated in John 8:32, "...And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." This is illustrated by the apostle Paul in his own life when he declared, "For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want...Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin" Romans 7: 19, 24-25.

Take a few minutes and think what a difference knowing God can make in your life.

3 comments:

Refreshment in Refuge said...

Excellent post, Clarie! I love how God works in our lives.

HeyJules said...

I wish you'd write like this every single day. I learn so much when you write like this so we can see the truth in scripture and apply it to our lives.

Do you have the spiritual gift of knowledge, Claire? I've always meant to ask you that.

Leslee said...

Beautifully written. God has done a good thing with you!