Knowing
the LORD

In the previous blog, Knowing about God,  we looked at the lacking of knowing about the LORD without agreeing with His character, embracing and serving Him as He is. Now we look to the clarity in the Bible’s call for disciples to live in as much of the LORD as He enables, to live knowing Him and equipped by His power over all that is less than Himself:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹

‘Standing’ strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might is not a knowing about thing but is fully relational. The sons of Sceva thought that an incantation of Truth could be enough but as the demon resists, it is apparent that they were lacking the knowing relationship of living respondingly in who the LORD truly is. Paul encourages the disciple to be in the LORD, in the whole armor of all that God gives to those knowing Him wholly and to stand in that relationship with Him.
How do we know God? Closeness is essential, being in relationship according to God’s desires and in agreement with what He says is necessary. It is by faith in His Grace and staying close to Him,

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. ²

With certainty we know that God responds to those who seek Him, who desire and commit to fully knowing Him, making relationship with who He truly is the priority in their life. Not surprisingly, knowing God in closeness is an effective way to not be deceived by perceptions augmented by the demonic:

Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. ³

There is a passage back in Isaiah which envisions a time when those who would truly know the LORD make that their priority, devoting time, energy and attention to who the LORD is as He reveals Himself,

“Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. ⁴

Imagine living a life in which you ‘delight to draw near to God’ and the LORD acknowledges ‘they seek Me daily’ ‘they delight to know My ways’ ‘they do righteousness’ ‘they hold fast to My judgments’ and ‘I Am their God.’
We mentioned the Confirmation Bias of artificial intelligence last week but wouldn’t it be more worthy to confirm our desire to know the LORD by actually living ‘drawn near’ to Him in every way we can? The feelings of satisfaction we may get from fulfilling our self-expectations of the value of knowing about God cannot compare to the Truth of being so close to God in relationship that we are imprinted with His image in who we are becoming. More like He truly is. Amen.

A few observations on ‘Drawing Near to Know the LORD’

As in any personal relationship which is what disciples desire in ‘knowing’ the LORD, time and personal contact are essential. Let me suggest the following ‘drawing near’ practices:

• Read as much of the Bible, God’s autobiography, as you can and do it regularly. Make this a daily priority for in it you will not only read what He does but you will find the desires of His heart and how He desires to fulfill that in relationship with you.
• Learn to communicate with the LORD in prayer and worship. These are meant to be intimate practices of two-way communication.
• Spend appropriate time with those who have passionate relationships with God for who He is, who live out their life in the lifestyle of Jesus, who know Him deeply and live out that knowledge through their love of Him and those He loves.
• Give yourself to those things that are important to the LORD more than the things that are urgent to the world. Keep the LORD higher in priority than the lesser demands of life.
• Live a life of gratitude in the LORD for all He is in your life. Be thankful for His life lived out through your life. Allow Him to demonstrate godliness and righteousness in all of your contacts with others. Let Jesus be ‘Christ in you, the Hope of Glory.’