JEREMIAH 9:23-24 – “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.””
PHILIPPIANS 3:10 – “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death”
THEME OF THE DAY: KNOWING GOD. Stop and ponder what it means to be a Christian and do so by slowly reading and thinking on today’s scripture. Jesus would define it in His High Priestly prayer as follows:
“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:1-3).
The whole of the Christian life is that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, the Lord Jesus, so that all who believe would have the privilege of knowing and walking with Him now and forever. There it is. That truth of the Christian life begs us to ask two questions concerning our understanding and living of the Christian life.
First, do I grasp that God the Father made me a child of His through His Son by His Spirit and Word for the purpose of communing, fellowshipping, and developing a life-transforming relationship with Him? I know that is a long sentence, but take time to ponder it, and do so by reading again the two scripture references of today. God did not save us merely to remove His wrath from us. He chose us to know, love, worship, fear, serve, and adore Him now and forever. This relationship is of God’s choosing in love so that we may fulfill our created purpose – knowing Him, not knowing facts about Him but knowing Him in a deepening relationship.
Next question, am I cultivating this relationship with God that is transforming me into His image? By the way, that image is of His Son, best described as a life conforming to His character, is found in Paul’s letter to the Galatians – “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Here is a good litmus test. Ask someone very close to you, that observes you a lot, a person who really knows you, if the Fruit of the Spirit is increasing in your life. Normally that would be a person living with us who would be able to give a transparent answer. Salvation is all about change. Initially, changing us from a child of darkness in the kingdom of Satan to a child of light in the Kingdom of Christ. And that initial change leads to a life-long journey of change. Is that occurring in us? It must if we are Christians.
The Christian life is not about us doing Christian things or even having Christian friends. It’s about what has been done, and that in Christ bringing us out of the bondage of Satan, sin, and self to walk with God each and every day of our lives. May it be true as we grasp what it truly means to be a Christian.
PRAYER: Father, I praise You for giving me Your Son and opening the door for me to know and love You.
REFLECTION: The gospel is not merely God removing His wrath from us but an invitation to know Him.