1 John 2:4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
I spent decades of my life knowing about and believing in God but that didn't make me any better off than a demon (James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.) The Word of God is crystal clear, there are a lot of folks walking around believing in God, even ministering in His name, that do not know Him (Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.)
The words "know" and "knew" (underlined above) are the same words in the original Greek. They both mean to be familiar with, understand, acknowledge,(Louw-Nida) or, describes a close acquaintance with someone (Strong's Greek 1097)
I walked around for twenty-some years saying that I was a Christian (worst of all believing it) but I had absolutely no close acquaintance with God. God never knew me and I didn't know Him because I had chosen to obey Angie, instead of God.
There are two commands that Jesus gave us to obey; love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27, Matthew 22:37-39) Jesus personified these 2 commands and we are to do the same if we really, honestly want to know God. The important thing to consider is that we absolutely cannot live our lives as Jesus did, not in our own strength. That drives home the meaning of these verses, you can't be a Christian, unless you have God. Knowing, believing and serving God mean nothing without a relationship with Him.
Dear Lord,
Please forgive me for all of my thoughts, words and actions that were not honoring to You. I am turning from those things and focusing on following You. Forgive me for loving other things more than you. I know that ever person, activity or possession that I value more than you becomes my god. I am choosing today to put you first, to love you above all others and with everything I have. Please fill me with your Spirit to guide and strengthen me. I know that you love me far beyond my own hearts capabilities to love, change my heart so that I can love you more. Make my desires yours. Thank you!
In Jesus name, Amen.
I spent decades of my life knowing about and believing in God but that didn't make me any better off than a demon (James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.) The Word of God is crystal clear, there are a lot of folks walking around believing in God, even ministering in His name, that do not know Him (Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.)
The words "know" and "knew" (underlined above) are the same words in the original Greek. They both mean to be familiar with, understand, acknowledge,(Louw-Nida) or, describes a close acquaintance with someone (Strong's Greek 1097)
I walked around for twenty-some years saying that I was a Christian (worst of all believing it) but I had absolutely no close acquaintance with God. God never knew me and I didn't know Him because I had chosen to obey Angie, instead of God.
There are two commands that Jesus gave us to obey; love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27, Matthew 22:37-39) Jesus personified these 2 commands and we are to do the same if we really, honestly want to know God. The important thing to consider is that we absolutely cannot live our lives as Jesus did, not in our own strength. That drives home the meaning of these verses, you can't be a Christian, unless you have God. Knowing, believing and serving God mean nothing without a relationship with Him.
Dear Lord,
Please forgive me for all of my thoughts, words and actions that were not honoring to You. I am turning from those things and focusing on following You. Forgive me for loving other things more than you. I know that ever person, activity or possession that I value more than you becomes my god. I am choosing today to put you first, to love you above all others and with everything I have. Please fill me with your Spirit to guide and strengthen me. I know that you love me far beyond my own hearts capabilities to love, change my heart so that I can love you more. Make my desires yours. Thank you!
In Jesus name, Amen.
1 comments:
Great post! I was the same as you...going around for years thinking I was "in" with God when all I was doing was just going to church on Sundays and choir rehearsal on Wednesday nights. I've known who God was all my life...it's probably only been within the last three or four years that I've really developed a hunger to KNOW Him. He's such an amazing God...now I just can't get enough!!
2/3/11, 8:02 AMPost a Comment