KNOWLEDGE OF GOD (4)

“LET US KNOW, let us PURSUE the KNOWLEDGE of the LORD…” – Hosea 6:3a

The KNOWLEDGE of GOD transcends simply knowing about Him to pursuing to KNOW HIM passionately: “LET US KNOW, let us PURSUE the KNOWLEDGE of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth” (Hos.6:3). One can know much about the Lord, His nature and attributes, and yet not to know Him personally – intimately. We can of course, only come to know God through the Lord Jesus Christ: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me…And this is eternal life, that they may KNOW YOU, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (Jh.14:6; 17:3).

Beyond initially coming to know God as our loving heavenly Father through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we must go on to know Him progressively, for there are degrees of knowing Him: “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection…” (Phi.3:10a).

We get to know God in one or more of the following ways:

Spend time in communion with Him: We can only really get to know God as we spend time alone with Him, cultivating fellowship and friendship with Him, as Enoch did: “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Gen. 5:24).

Listen to Him speak: Friends get together, converse, and get to know one another. As we wait in God’s Presence regularly, He speaks to us in and through His Word, and we come to know Him, like Mary did: “And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Lk.10:39-42).

Speak to Him: Fellowship is mutual; not one-sided. When we come into the Presence of the Lord and open our hearts and our lips to Him, we get to know Him, as David did: “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice” (Psa.55:17). 

Observe His Ways: We get to know God by observing what He does and how He does it. This happens gradually in the daily paths of practical obedience as we follow on to know Him – pursuing His Knowledge: “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the KNOWLEDGE of GOD more than burnt offerings” (v.6). The True Knowledge of God then ushers us into Realms of Revival: “The latter and former rain” (v.3).