"But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not." Matthew 25:12
Last week we talked about how you can't have a relationship with someone you don't know. Even a relationship with someone goes beyond just an acquaintance with them. We discussed that one reason God reveals Himself in scripture the way He does is because He wants us to have a relationship with Him so He tells us all about Himself-- what He likes and dislikes, what He can do, what He can't do, who He is, His nature and so on.
God wants a relationship with us-- He wants us to know Him. But the real question is not whether you know Him but does He know you? So many people claim to "know" God. What they really mean is "they know about Him". They have heard stories about Him, perhaps they have heard someone else talk about Him, they have heard His name mentioned, etc. When we stand before Him one day, it's not going to be about us knowing Him... it will be about Him knowing us. If He doesn't know us, we won't get into heaven, we won't spend eternity with Him. He is not going to open the doors to His "house" and let "strangers" move in. "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:23
The word for "knew" in this verse means to have a relationship with; to be intimate with. Do you know Him? Does He know you? Do you have a relationship with Him? Will He profess that He knows you? Or will you be a stranger to Him on that day? If you don't have a relationship with Him what's stopping you? He desires to know you personally, intimately. Accept His invitation to come into a relationship with Him.... accept it today.
Have a great day. Does He know you?
Monday, July 7, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
"To Know God - Part 3"
"That I may know him..." Philippians 3:10a
A third reason I want to talk about this morning on the subject of why God reveals Himself to us through different names and titles has to do with relationship. There is a difference in having an acquaintance and a relationship with someone. When I am acquainted with someone, I know only a few details about them. But when I have a relationship with someone I know even "deep" things about them. For example, if you're an acquaintance I might know your name, where you live, who you are married to, whether you have children or not. But if I have a relationship with you, I not only know these details about you I also know how long you have lived where you live, the names and birthdates of all your children, what you like, what you dislike, what your favorite color is, your favorite dessert, your least favorite food, the kind of music you like including your favorite song, and so on. I don't just know facts and figures about you, I know personal intimate details. And the more I learn about you the deeper our relationship becomes.
God created us for His pleasure- to have a relationship with us. Because God is love, He created us out of a desire to express His love on someone and have them love Him in return out of a free will. In the beginning God had a relationship with mankind through Adam, but Adam disobeyed God and sin came into the picture. This sin was now an issue that caused a wedge between God and man. But because God does not change, His love for us never changed, His desire to have a relationship, fellowship and intimacy with us didn't change, He sent His Son Jesus to pay the price for our sins- dealing with the sin issue- so that we could be reconciled back to God in a relationship of love.
Because God desires a relationship with us- that we might know Him- He reveals who He is through His names and titles. As we learn who He is through them, it deepens our knowledge of Him which in turn deepens our relationship with Him. Moses wanted to see God- he wanted to know Him in a deeper way. How did God let him "see Him"? How did He reveal Himself to Moses? Through His names- "And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD." (Exodus 34:5)
God desires a relationship with us that's why He is continually revealing who He is to us. It's not so that we will be acquainted with Him through knowing facts and figures about Him- just what He does, but that we will know Him through a revelation of who He is.
Have a great day. Because this infinite God desires to have a relationship with us finite beings, He reveals Himself to us through His names and titles. As He does we learn that He is our source for everything we need. This knowledge should cause us to desire to have a relationship with Him too in return.
A third reason I want to talk about this morning on the subject of why God reveals Himself to us through different names and titles has to do with relationship. There is a difference in having an acquaintance and a relationship with someone. When I am acquainted with someone, I know only a few details about them. But when I have a relationship with someone I know even "deep" things about them. For example, if you're an acquaintance I might know your name, where you live, who you are married to, whether you have children or not. But if I have a relationship with you, I not only know these details about you I also know how long you have lived where you live, the names and birthdates of all your children, what you like, what you dislike, what your favorite color is, your favorite dessert, your least favorite food, the kind of music you like including your favorite song, and so on. I don't just know facts and figures about you, I know personal intimate details. And the more I learn about you the deeper our relationship becomes.
God created us for His pleasure- to have a relationship with us. Because God is love, He created us out of a desire to express His love on someone and have them love Him in return out of a free will. In the beginning God had a relationship with mankind through Adam, but Adam disobeyed God and sin came into the picture. This sin was now an issue that caused a wedge between God and man. But because God does not change, His love for us never changed, His desire to have a relationship, fellowship and intimacy with us didn't change, He sent His Son Jesus to pay the price for our sins- dealing with the sin issue- so that we could be reconciled back to God in a relationship of love.
Because God desires a relationship with us- that we might know Him- He reveals who He is through His names and titles. As we learn who He is through them, it deepens our knowledge of Him which in turn deepens our relationship with Him. Moses wanted to see God- he wanted to know Him in a deeper way. How did God let him "see Him"? How did He reveal Himself to Moses? Through His names- "And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD." (Exodus 34:5)
God desires a relationship with us that's why He is continually revealing who He is to us. It's not so that we will be acquainted with Him through knowing facts and figures about Him- just what He does, but that we will know Him through a revelation of who He is.
Have a great day. Because this infinite God desires to have a relationship with us finite beings, He reveals Himself to us through His names and titles. As He does we learn that He is our source for everything we need. This knowledge should cause us to desire to have a relationship with Him too in return.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
"To Know God - Part 2"
"...and his name shall be called..." Isaiah 9:6
Yesterday we discussed that one of the reasons why God reveals Himself to us through many names and titles is because He is God and there is no way our finite minds could comprehend an infinite God unless He tells us who He is.
This morning I want to discuss another reason why He reveals Himself through different names and titles. His names identify who He is- His nature, His character, His abilities. He reveals who He is because He knows that we are such a needy people and He wants us to know that He is the source- the true source, a capable source, a reliable source- that we can turn to when in need... whatever the need.
He reveals Himself as Counselor because we need council. We don't always know the right decisions to make in every situation- we need someone to turn to who does know what is the right thing for us to do and can give us direction. We need provisions- food, clothing, shelter- so He reveals Himself as Provider so that we would know that He is the source we can turn to when we lack. We all suffer times of weakness, therefore, we need strength. He lets us know that He is strength- there is no weakness in Him and we can become strong by looking to Him. He reveals Himself as Savior because we all need saving but none of us can save ourselves. So when we turn to Him as Savior we find forgiveness for our sins and salvation. Who doesn't need peace? He is the Prince of Peace- the one who gives peace of mind and peace of heart, who gives us an enduring lasting peace, who gives us peace with God, who keeps us in perfect peace when our minds are stayed on Him.
I could go on and on. But with each revelation of Himself we realize that He is who and what we need. It makes us aware that no matter the situation, no matter the need, no matter how great or small the problem-- He "fits the bill"-- He is exactly what we need.
Have a great day. When He identifies Himself through a different name or title, He is letting me know that He is what I need when I have a need in that area.
Yesterday we discussed that one of the reasons why God reveals Himself to us through many names and titles is because He is God and there is no way our finite minds could comprehend an infinite God unless He tells us who He is.
This morning I want to discuss another reason why He reveals Himself through different names and titles. His names identify who He is- His nature, His character, His abilities. He reveals who He is because He knows that we are such a needy people and He wants us to know that He is the source- the true source, a capable source, a reliable source- that we can turn to when in need... whatever the need.
He reveals Himself as Counselor because we need council. We don't always know the right decisions to make in every situation- we need someone to turn to who does know what is the right thing for us to do and can give us direction. We need provisions- food, clothing, shelter- so He reveals Himself as Provider so that we would know that He is the source we can turn to when we lack. We all suffer times of weakness, therefore, we need strength. He lets us know that He is strength- there is no weakness in Him and we can become strong by looking to Him. He reveals Himself as Savior because we all need saving but none of us can save ourselves. So when we turn to Him as Savior we find forgiveness for our sins and salvation. Who doesn't need peace? He is the Prince of Peace- the one who gives peace of mind and peace of heart, who gives us an enduring lasting peace, who gives us peace with God, who keeps us in perfect peace when our minds are stayed on Him.
I could go on and on. But with each revelation of Himself we realize that He is who and what we need. It makes us aware that no matter the situation, no matter the need, no matter how great or small the problem-- He "fits the bill"-- He is exactly what we need.
Have a great day. When He identifies Himself through a different name or title, He is letting me know that He is what I need when I have a need in that area.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
"To Know God"
"And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?" Exodus 3:13
In the scriptures God reveals Himself through many names and titles. Before I go any further let me say-- I am in no way implying or agreeing with the teaching that says that we all worship the same God even though we call Him by another name. I am talking about the One God, the only True and Living God, the God of the Bible. We don't all worship the same God.
He reveals Himself as Jehovah Jireh the provider, Jehovah Rophe the healer, He is the Prince of Peace, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, The Way, The Truth, The Light, The Life, The Comforter, Savior, Lord, and hundreds of other names and titles. By revealing Himself to us through these names and titles He is identifying who He is-- that's what a name and title does. One of the reasons He does this is because He is God which makes Him unsearchable, past finding out, the depths of who He is is far greater that we can ever comprehend or understand in our little finite being. Because He is infinite in nature the only way we can ever possibly get even the slightest understanding of who He is is if He reveals it to us.
Rejoice today in the fact that God has made Himself known to us. He is not a God that is afar off, He is close enough to make Himself known. Each time you see a different name revealed of Him in scripture it brings a little more clarity to our understanding of who God is. He is a holy God who is so much greater than we can even imagine, but He desires that we know Him even if it is only a small part of who He is.
Have a great day. God identifies Himself to us so that we will have a little better understanding of who this unsearchable God we serve is.
In the scriptures God reveals Himself through many names and titles. Before I go any further let me say-- I am in no way implying or agreeing with the teaching that says that we all worship the same God even though we call Him by another name. I am talking about the One God, the only True and Living God, the God of the Bible. We don't all worship the same God.
He reveals Himself as Jehovah Jireh the provider, Jehovah Rophe the healer, He is the Prince of Peace, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, The Way, The Truth, The Light, The Life, The Comforter, Savior, Lord, and hundreds of other names and titles. By revealing Himself to us through these names and titles He is identifying who He is-- that's what a name and title does. One of the reasons He does this is because He is God which makes Him unsearchable, past finding out, the depths of who He is is far greater that we can ever comprehend or understand in our little finite being. Because He is infinite in nature the only way we can ever possibly get even the slightest understanding of who He is is if He reveals it to us.
Rejoice today in the fact that God has made Himself known to us. He is not a God that is afar off, He is close enough to make Himself known. Each time you see a different name revealed of Him in scripture it brings a little more clarity to our understanding of who God is. He is a holy God who is so much greater than we can even imagine, but He desires that we know Him even if it is only a small part of who He is.
Have a great day. God identifies Himself to us so that we will have a little better understanding of who this unsearchable God we serve is.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
"Praise Is His Sanctuary"
"Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion." Psalm 114:2
"Judah was his sanctuary." Let me give you a "literal" interpretation of this based on the meaning of these words. "Praise was God's Holy place of habitation." Psalm 22:3 says, "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel."
Do you desire more of the presence of God in your life? Then make your life a place of praise. God doesn't dwell in murmuring and complaining. He does dwell in criticism. He doesn't dwell in backbiting and gossip. He doesn't dwell where arguing is, nor does He dwell in cursing and profanity. He doesn't dwell in words of doubt, fear and unbelief. He dwells in praise.
How much time do you spend giving God praise and honor each day? Is your mouth continually filled with His praises? Do you go around your home lifting up His blessed name in praise? Praise is not just something we do in church during the song service. Praise is a lifestyle-- a lifestyle of gratitude for the One who died for us, gave His life freely to redeem us from our sins, who gives us all good things, who daily loads us with benefits, who meets and supplies every need.
His praise should continually be in our mouths (Psalm 34:1), and the starting place each day is in the morning. When you get out of bed the first thing you should do is open your mouth and begin to praise Him for keeping you safe through the night, for waking you up to the dawn of a new day, for giving you life, health, peace, salvation, for loving you, for making His sun shine upon you, for allowing you the privilege of coming to Him in prayer, for hearing your request, for giving you access into His very presence, (should I continue?). Make your life a sanctuary of praise and watch how His presence will dwell in your life in a greater way.
Have a great day. God dwells in praise, not in complaining.
"Judah was his sanctuary." Let me give you a "literal" interpretation of this based on the meaning of these words. "Praise was God's Holy place of habitation." Psalm 22:3 says, "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel."
Do you desire more of the presence of God in your life? Then make your life a place of praise. God doesn't dwell in murmuring and complaining. He does dwell in criticism. He doesn't dwell in backbiting and gossip. He doesn't dwell where arguing is, nor does He dwell in cursing and profanity. He doesn't dwell in words of doubt, fear and unbelief. He dwells in praise.
How much time do you spend giving God praise and honor each day? Is your mouth continually filled with His praises? Do you go around your home lifting up His blessed name in praise? Praise is not just something we do in church during the song service. Praise is a lifestyle-- a lifestyle of gratitude for the One who died for us, gave His life freely to redeem us from our sins, who gives us all good things, who daily loads us with benefits, who meets and supplies every need.
His praise should continually be in our mouths (Psalm 34:1), and the starting place each day is in the morning. When you get out of bed the first thing you should do is open your mouth and begin to praise Him for keeping you safe through the night, for waking you up to the dawn of a new day, for giving you life, health, peace, salvation, for loving you, for making His sun shine upon you, for allowing you the privilege of coming to Him in prayer, for hearing your request, for giving you access into His very presence, (should I continue?). Make your life a sanctuary of praise and watch how His presence will dwell in your life in a greater way.
Have a great day. God dwells in praise, not in complaining.
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