Devotional Thoughts for the Week of May 2, 2021 - God Yearns to Be Known
Isn’t our God fascinating? I am marveling again at God’s desire to be known by men and women. He is not even remotely ambivalent about it. He is continually calling people to Himself, inviting them to know Him. Somehow God taught Enoch to know Him and walk with Him so closely that he was just taken from the earth to be with God (Gen. 5:24). When King Abimelech had taken Sarai to his palace, God made Himself known and told the king to return her to Abram (Gen. 20). After God introduced Himself to Moses at the burning bush, the relationship grew continually stronger for decades to come. Repeatedly, God said to Ezekiel and other prophets that what He was doing was so that people would know Him as God. Jesus - the Word made flesh - is the consummate example of God calling out to mankind so that all may know Him. When the paralytic was healed Jesus told the religious leaders that it was so that they would know that He had power on earth to forgive sins (Mk. 2). God made Himself known to Nicodemus (John 3) and changed the trajectory of his life. He welcomed Mary to sit under his teaching and learn to know her Heavenly Father, even though it was against the cultural norms for women (Luke 10). Even the Roman soldier at the cross was enabled to see that “surely He was the Son of God!” (Matt. 27:54). On the road to Damascus, God made Himself known so powerfully that Saul was blinded for three days (Acts 9). Our amazing, Holy God does not need anything or anyone, yet He longs for our hearts to be united to His own. He relentlessly pursues hearts and woos individuals to Himself.
What a priceless privilege He offers! He desires to give people a heart to know Him (Jeremiah 24:7). He invites us to believe and to be called sons and daughters of the Most High God (John 1:12). To know God is the greatest joy that any human can know. It is the very essence of eternal life (John 17:3). The Passion translation uses rich language to convey the Psalmists’ expressions of worship. “I overflow with praise when I come before You, for the anointing of Your Presence satisfies me like nothing else. You are such a rich banquet of pleasure to my soul” (63:5). “Just to be in Your presence satisfies my heart” (64:5). “You comfort me by Your counsel; You draw me closer to you. You lead me with Your secret wisdom and following You brings me into Your brightness and glory! Whom have I in heaven but You? You’re all I want! No one on earth means as much to me as You . . forever You’re all I need!” (73:23-26).
What about you, friend? Are you living in the delight of personal intimacy with God? Are you feasting at the banquet of His presence? God desires for you to know Him and to love Him. That is the reason you were created. It is my prayer that each of us will seek to be ever learning to know Him more and love Him more all the days of our lives. Let us also be encouraged in our prayers for lost souls. God desires for them to draw near even more than we desire it. He is working in their lives and will continue to do so. His love for them is beyond measure. What amazing love, mercy, and patience He displays! All our hope is in Him.
Lynn
Isn’t our God fascinating? I am marveling again at God’s desire to be known by men and women. He is not even remotely ambivalent about it. He is continually calling people to Himself, inviting them to know Him. Somehow God taught Enoch to know Him and walk with Him so closely that he was just taken from the earth to be with God (Gen. 5:24). When King Abimelech had taken Sarai to his palace, God made Himself known and told the king to return her to Abram (Gen. 20). After God introduced Himself to Moses at the burning bush, the relationship grew continually stronger for decades to come. Repeatedly, God said to Ezekiel and other prophets that what He was doing was so that people would know Him as God. Jesus - the Word made flesh - is the consummate example of God calling out to mankind so that all may know Him. When the paralytic was healed Jesus told the religious leaders that it was so that they would know that He had power on earth to forgive sins (Mk. 2). God made Himself known to Nicodemus (John 3) and changed the trajectory of his life. He welcomed Mary to sit under his teaching and learn to know her Heavenly Father, even though it was against the cultural norms for women (Luke 10). Even the Roman soldier at the cross was enabled to see that “surely He was the Son of God!” (Matt. 27:54). On the road to Damascus, God made Himself known so powerfully that Saul was blinded for three days (Acts 9). Our amazing, Holy God does not need anything or anyone, yet He longs for our hearts to be united to His own. He relentlessly pursues hearts and woos individuals to Himself.
What a priceless privilege He offers! He desires to give people a heart to know Him (Jeremiah 24:7). He invites us to believe and to be called sons and daughters of the Most High God (John 1:12). To know God is the greatest joy that any human can know. It is the very essence of eternal life (John 17:3). The Passion translation uses rich language to convey the Psalmists’ expressions of worship. “I overflow with praise when I come before You, for the anointing of Your Presence satisfies me like nothing else. You are such a rich banquet of pleasure to my soul” (63:5). “Just to be in Your presence satisfies my heart” (64:5). “You comfort me by Your counsel; You draw me closer to you. You lead me with Your secret wisdom and following You brings me into Your brightness and glory! Whom have I in heaven but You? You’re all I want! No one on earth means as much to me as You . . forever You’re all I need!” (73:23-26).
What about you, friend? Are you living in the delight of personal intimacy with God? Are you feasting at the banquet of His presence? God desires for you to know Him and to love Him. That is the reason you were created. It is my prayer that each of us will seek to be ever learning to know Him more and love Him more all the days of our lives. Let us also be encouraged in our prayers for lost souls. God desires for them to draw near even more than we desire it. He is working in their lives and will continue to do so. His love for them is beyond measure. What amazing love, mercy, and patience He displays! All our hope is in Him.
Lynn
