Knowing God

There is a difference between knowing about God and knowing God. It's the difference between knowing facts about God, like reading a history book about Abraham Lincoln, and truly knowing God, like knowing a good friend. It's the difference between mere intellectual understanding and a fulsome heartfelt experience. For too many Christians, we may know facts about God, but we don't truly know God in our inner being.

But we want to. How do we move from simply hearing about a good meal to actually tasting and experiencing that meal? Psalm 34:8 says "taste and see that the Lord is good." How do we actually experience the grace of God, so that we're profoundly moved by the greatness of God's love and forgiveness?

Jeremiah 29:13 says, "you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." The answer is that it takes intentional effort and perseverance to know God. He has invited us into a relationship with him. But we must accept that invitation through the various means of grace--studying Scripture, ardent prayer, consistence in church, regular fellowship, serving with joy, courageous evangelism. A living, vital relationship with God is a journey of faith, not a passive event. For 2024, let us renew our commitment to walking that journey.