The Knowledge of God

We are called to obey the Lord and live a life pleasing Him as long as we live.  Unless we know the nature of God, the magnitude of His sacrifice, and what He expects from us, we cannot live like that!   

The problem with Israel began when the priests and the prophets themselves did not teach the law of God to the people.  There was no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land.

Knowing about God and knowing God are two different things.  We can 'know' God only when we have a relationship with Him.  Paul, while writing to the Colossians, says that they must walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10).  This is the basic requirement of every believer!

Growing in the knowledge of God demands an intimate relationship with Jesus!  

The Bible says in Amos 8:11, "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD."  I must say that such a famine has already come! 

There is a dearth of hearing the unadulterated Word of God, and because of that, there is a lack of knowledge of God.  While people focus on God's mercy and compassion, they ignore teaching about God's justice and wrath.  People pick out promises and claim them without fulfilling the conditions.  Living that way, we will never grow in the knowledge of the Lord!  The Bible says that when we understand the fear of the LORD, we will find the knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:2-5).

That is why the Lord says that the people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6).  The Lord is not talking about worldly knowledge or technical knowledge!  He is talking about the knowledge of God.  

The result of rejecting the knowledge of God is severe.  The Lord says then He will reject us from being priests for Him, and because we have forgotten the law of God, He will forget our children!

My friend, let us sit at the feet of Jesus like Mary and seek to know Him more every day so that we can obey Him and live a life pleasing to Him.  May the Lord bless our children and us in this New Year.

Lord Jesus, help me to spend time with You every day so that I will grow in the knowledge of the Lord.  Amen.