Paul said it most powerfully in Philippians 3:10, expressing one of his life goals … “THAT I MAY KNOW HIM.”
And Paul had already been saved several decades when he penned those challenging words, about “knowing” God!
Paul’s Statement here suggests that really knowing God (personally and experientially and intimately) takes time!
One Greek source defines “ginosko” (the verb Paul used for “knowing” God) like this: “knowledge obtained by proximity and familiarity to the thing known.”
Wow!
But, the big question, HOW can one so know Almighty God? Especially after reading Texts such as 1 Timothy 6:16 … “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”
So bright … humanly unapproachable!
How?
Via His WORD, THE HOLY BIBLE … yes knowing Him even experientially!
A Chapter, a Paragraph, a Verse, even a Clause or Phrase of Holy Scripture! And yes, sometimes even a Word (just a noun, verb, or any other part of speech)!
But not just reading (casually) that Block of Scripture … rather, thinking upon it, meditating through it, chewing it carefully!
I read this quote earlier today … “Meditation is like a Meal for the Soul!” For the heart, the mind, the spirit!
That’s how one gets to know God!
Listen to Jeremiah agree with Paul on this Idea of knowing God. “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: FOR THEY SHALL ALL KNOW ME, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 31:31-34 in part.
Wow!
Jesus even defined eternal life this way, in terms of knowing God! “And this is life eternal, THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3
Knowing God … so possible that “friendship” with Him is not only a possibility, but maybe an obligation! “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the FRIEND OF GOD.” James 2:23, alluding to Isaiah 41:8.
Jesus again … “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I HAVE CALLED YOU FRIENDS; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John 15:15, friendship based on sharing “secrets!”
It’s a life-long endeavor, delight … KNOWING GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS!
And should be with us, as with Paul the Apostle, a life-long GOAL!
KNOWING GOD!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Anyone interested?
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