Knowing God

I just wanted to share a bit about my lesson today. Today is Monday so my goal is to come home after the Bible Study Class I attend and prepare to lead those little ones on Tuesday. Part of that includes reading notes over the passages we have been studying the past week. Then tomorrow, after leading, I'll get to hear a wonderful, Spirit filled lecture over the same passages. So if I don't get it the first or second time there's still another chance!

We've been studying Moses. And in this section, Moses wants to know God.

"If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you." Exodus 33:13

This is after Moses was on the mountain with God for 4o Days. Our little ant brains would think you might know someone pretty well, especially after being with them for 40 days non-stop at one time. And this was just one of the times Moses was with God.

Where am I going with this? Well, the notes talk a bit about knowing God. What does it mean to know God? It may mean simple awareness of a mere fact like knowing where someone lives. Another knowing is knowing about someone or some thing like describing a city or the latest scoop on a celebrity. And there's knowledge by experience. Maybe you lived in that city or knew that individual. But there's more. The notes direct us to this description - knowledge by which one is changed. Knowledge by which one is changed.

The notes also use a quote from a book by J.I. Packer. The book is called Knowing God. I actually bought this book awhile back after our Pastor had talked about it one Sunday. I may even still have it. Unfortunately, I never got through it. Here's the quote:

"Knowing God involves, first, listening to God's word and receiving it as the Holy Spirit interprets it, in application to oneself; second, noting God's nature and character, as His word and works reveal it; third, accepting His invitations, and doing what He commands; fourth, recognizing, and rejoicing in, the love that He has shown in thus approaching one and drawing one into this divine fellowship."

If we say we are Christians, we should always strive to "know God". I need to be praying "Teach me your ways O Lord so I may know you better."

Especially after the reminder this past week from Pastor Jim Cymbala's quote: "We are always either drawing nearer to God or falling away. There is no holding pattern."