That We Might KNOW Him – Part 3

2 Peter 1:19–21 “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place… For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Sometimes when I help in my children’s classroom, the teacher will say, “Pay attention to what I’m about to say,” because she doesn’t want the kids to miss something important. In the same way, Peter tells us that we “would do well to pay attention” to Scripture because it is reliable, trustworthy, and God‑breathed.

We’ve already learned the importance and blessing of being in God’s Word, because it is one of the ways we come to KNOW God more. But knowing God is not simply knowing facts about Him. It is a deep, intimate relationship with the Father.

When we first pursued our spouse, someone had to make the first move. In the same way, God pursued us first because of His great love.

John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them.”

1 John 4:19 “We love because He first loved us.”

But no relationship can grow unless love is reciprocated. That’s why God tells us the first and greatest commandment is to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind.

Matthew 22:37–38 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

For any relationship to flourish, we must get to know the other person. During the courting process, we spend time learning their likes and dislikes. The more we love them, the more we want to please them. Likewise, the more time we spend with God, the more we get to KNOW Him — and the more we desire to please Him.

I remember before my first date with my husband, we spent several days just talking on the phone. The more I talked with him, the more I wanted to know him. The more time we spent together, the more intimate our relationship became. And so it is with God. The more time we invest in getting to KNOW Him, the more personal and intimate our relationship becomes.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for loving us. We are humbled that You have pursued us and that You desire a personal and intimate relationship with us. Help us to desire to KNOW You more, for Your Word tells us that our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ, and that in this fellowship our joy is made complete (1 John 1:4). Lord, we want to KNOW You more. Teach us what pleases You and make Your ways the desires of our hearts, so that every good work may be pleasing and acceptable to You. In Jesus’ name we pray… Amen.