Last week I got the following message from a classmate in my class at Fuller. He is a Korean student who has been exploring his faith as an individual within his strongly group-oriented Christian culture.
"I want to know what my classmates think about what the true definition of "knowing God" is. It's something I've been meditating on for the last several weeks and I want to know what you think.
In Hosea 6:6 says, "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."
In John 17:3 says, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
For a Christian to just go to a church and to attend Sunday services, or just knowing that God exists somewhere is not truly knowing God. At the same time, as imperfect humans beings and as his creations, we cannot perfectly fathom everything about him. I find myself constantly asking God what it means to truly KNOW him.Tell us what you think, classmates."
Here is how I responded:
Cheryl Thompson
1 Mar 09 10:45 PM MST
My word, J., you ask deep questions! Of course, the quick answer is no one can ever really KNOW God, but I will try to move past that.
Speaking experientially, I believe that what I know of Him has come from progressively realizing how deeply I am known by Him. Maybe this is the advantage of having lived a pretty long life, but I have had many, many encounters with God where I was forced to confess my sin, my anxiety, confusion or broken dreams and plead for His help because I simply couldn't go on as I was. The relief I have experienced and the wisdom I have gained from the Lord following this kind of honesty has taught me much of what I know of Him.
I have also found that my knowledge of Him grows deeper each year simply because I continually read through my Bible. Reading and meditating upon scripture on a daily basis, and incorporating what I read into my prayer life, has enabled me to converse with God on His terms (remember "coming to terms with the author" [Adler/Van Doren]?).
I realized many years ago that the Holy Spirit attends each time I read the Bible and the comfort of that nearness has really blessed me. Whether I am up in the night because I am too troubled to sleep, or sitting peacefully in my backyard with a cup of tea, the Lord is always there with me. I know He is there because He speaks to me through His word and in the silence of my heart when I pray.
Years ago my dad showed me what Jeremiah 29:12-13 says, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Dad said that was a promise from God and that He cannot lie. I have clung to that promise all of my life, and now I share it with you.
Seek Him. It takes years to know Him, but He will let Himself be known by you if you seek Him.
"I want to know what my classmates think about what the true definition of "knowing God" is. It's something I've been meditating on for the last several weeks and I want to know what you think.
In Hosea 6:6 says, "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."
In John 17:3 says, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
For a Christian to just go to a church and to attend Sunday services, or just knowing that God exists somewhere is not truly knowing God. At the same time, as imperfect humans beings and as his creations, we cannot perfectly fathom everything about him. I find myself constantly asking God what it means to truly KNOW him.Tell us what you think, classmates."
Here is how I responded:
Cheryl Thompson
1 Mar 09 10:45 PM MST
My word, J., you ask deep questions! Of course, the quick answer is no one can ever really KNOW God, but I will try to move past that.
Speaking experientially, I believe that what I know of Him has come from progressively realizing how deeply I am known by Him. Maybe this is the advantage of having lived a pretty long life, but I have had many, many encounters with God where I was forced to confess my sin, my anxiety, confusion or broken dreams and plead for His help because I simply couldn't go on as I was. The relief I have experienced and the wisdom I have gained from the Lord following this kind of honesty has taught me much of what I know of Him.
I have also found that my knowledge of Him grows deeper each year simply because I continually read through my Bible. Reading and meditating upon scripture on a daily basis, and incorporating what I read into my prayer life, has enabled me to converse with God on His terms (remember "coming to terms with the author" [Adler/Van Doren]?).
I realized many years ago that the Holy Spirit attends each time I read the Bible and the comfort of that nearness has really blessed me. Whether I am up in the night because I am too troubled to sleep, or sitting peacefully in my backyard with a cup of tea, the Lord is always there with me. I know He is there because He speaks to me through His word and in the silence of my heart when I pray.
Years ago my dad showed me what Jeremiah 29:12-13 says, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Dad said that was a promise from God and that He cannot lie. I have clung to that promise all of my life, and now I share it with you.
Seek Him. It takes years to know Him, but He will let Himself be known by you if you seek Him.
_________________________________________________________
"Then you will call upon me
and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me
when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:12-13
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1 comments:
I love that idea of claiming that verse as a promise as we seek Him. Thanks for sharing!
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