Knowing God (2)
Scripture Reading — Psalm 139:1-18
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Psalm 139:6
Philosophers often say that the only thing about God we can know for sure is how utterly unknowable God is. Getting to know God has to begin with his sovereign determination to begin a relationship with us. Knowing God is always a matter of divine initiative.
When Israel was a slave nation in Egypt, God reached down to deliver them out of slavery, keeping his promise in which he'd said, "I will be your God, and you will be my people" (see Genesis 17:7; Exodus 6:7; Leviticus 26:12). In this relationship God gave his people the gift of faith that bound them to him. In effect, God was saying, "We're going to get to know each other," and he provided them with the faith they needed in order to know the Lord.
We too have a relationship with God because of his grace alone, in Christ. God gives us faith to bind us to him, and he invites us to get to know him intimately through Jesus, who freed us from our slavery to sin.
The preaching of the Word is the primary means of grace by which we get to know God. Public worship is vital for spiritual growth. Of course, there are other important means as well--such as personal prayer, Bible reading, and meditation--but knowing God involves daily private worship that is guided and built up by weekly public worship.
Lord God, may your people get to know you better as they hear your voice through your Word. May we be listening every day as we learn to live faithfully for you. In Jesus, Amen.
About the author — H. David Schuringa
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