Know God? No God?

 It was a beautiful summer day and three little boys were playing in one of the boy’s back yard. Being summer, the windows of the house were open and the Dad of the house happened to overhear. the boys in a heated discussion. The boys were arguing about their dads.

The first boy, proudly declared HIS dad personally knew the Mayor of the city! The second boy, not to be outdone, said “That’s nothing MY dad knows knows the Governor of the state!” The father waited to hear what his son’s reply would be. “Well, MY dad knows God!” The father felt humbled by his son’s declaration.

I wonder how many children could said that about their father. Of all our accomplishments nothing excels a personal relationship with God. You may never be wealthy nor famous but God says the greatest thing in your life is knowing Him. Jeremiah 9:23-24 “…he understands and knows me..” What greater knowledge is there than that of knowing God?

In the Bible, there are two different words translated as “know.” The first word speaks of an intellectual knowledge. The heathen ruler ‘knew’ about the God of Israel but they did not have a relationship with Him. It would be like me saying I know Donald Trump. I could pick him out of a crowd of men.

The second use of the word is used in a relationship setting. Genesis 4:1 “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived …” He had an intimate, relational knowledge with his wife. Most people today say they know God what they actually mean is they know about God. They know about God from Sunday School or even from reading their Bible. But God desires us to know Him in a personal relationship. “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

One of the most powerful verses in the Bible is John17:3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.” It is only through having a relational knowledge of God can you have eternal life.

Speaking Responsibilty

 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love -- I Corinthians 16:13-14

I wonder how many of us would be honest enough to confess that our speech sometimes gets us in trouble? As Christ-followers, we are commanded to speak the truth (Zechariah8:16) but even speaking the truth may cause us problems. Galatians 4:16

When speaking with people we should always tell the truth but our speech must be motivated by love Ephesians 4:15 That sounds simple and sometimes it is but sometimes it can be very uncomfortable. When someone has strayed from the faith, we must confront them with truth but in love. James 5:20

It is rare to find a church or small group who have the courage to speak the truth in love even when it's hard. Rarer still is the person who can accept the truth without being offended.

In 1729, Oxford students John and Charles Wesley began the Holy Club, a name given by their fellow collegians in mockery of their emphasis on devotions, was the first sign of what later became Methodism. One of the major tenets of this gathering was a strict accountability of their Christian lifestyle, systematically brought all their lives under strict review.

We need to speak the truth but always in a spirit of love. "Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you." Ephesians 4:28

God's "Wait" Room

At many gyms, they have a room designated as the weight room. It consists of a variety of weights and machines for resistance training. Most people, who come just to exercise, avoid this room because this room is for people that are dedicated to building muscle. It means HARD work!

In the spiritual realm. God has a special room to develop our spiritual muscles. It is called the "wait" room. Many (including me) have a difficulty with waiting. We wait to get an appointment with the doctor. When we finally get to the doctor; we sit in a waiting room. We wait in the waiting room until the nurse calls our name and takes us to an exam room where we (you guessed it) we wait again.

Think how often we wait. We wait in line at the grocery store. We wait at the gas station. We have to wait to get our haircut. Have you noticed that many car accidents happen at stoplights. Why? Because people are not willing to wait at a red light, so they run the light and cause an accident and maybe a fatality. We live in a world geared to the instantaneous; microwaves, fast food, we have to buy a new computer because we need one that is faster.

Depending on which version of the Bible you read; "waiting" is mentioned over 140 times, it appears God wants us to understand waiting. Many times it is in context that waiting can be beneficial. We get frustrated when we pray and God doesn't answer immediately; thinking God did not hear or refuses our request. But waiting on God is the major way we grow spiritually.

Isaiah 40:31 "...but those who keep waiting for the Lord will renew their strength.

Lamentations 3:26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Psalm 40:11 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.

If you are waiting on God; do not be discouraged and quit. Galatians 6:9 Just because you cannot see God at work; does not mean He isn't!

Are You Going It Alone?

 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them. Matthew 18:20

For many men, our default is go-it-alone. We prefer to work alone, make decisions alone, power through struggles alone, get credit for doing it alone. Nothing is more macho than bein a Rambo-type! Showing the world you can handle life, alone if necessary.

The problem is, our Savior, Jesus Christ does not think it's a great idea. He didn't go-it-alone during His ministry' He doesn't go-it-alone now. Mark 3:13-15 And when He sent followers tp preach and do miracles, He sent them in pairs, so they wouldn't go-it-alone either. Luke 10:1 But, why are pairs or groups better than one person?

There are several reasons:

* Jesus is uniquely present when two or more people join together in His name Matthew 18:20

* When two or more people join together who know one another, pray for one another, and pray with one another there have a better chance to succeed in their mission. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

* You receive more support and are protected from sin and opposition. Having a partner provides accountability from temptation and having someone to "watch your back."

You were never meant to go it alone. Remember; even the Lone Ranger had Tonto.

Who Moved?

 I once read a story of an older couple that was taking a Sunday drive in the country. (This was before mandatory seat beat laws and the invention of bucket seats.) As they enjoyed their afternoon ride, the wife said to her husband, " I was remembering all the rides we have taken over the years. But something has changed. We used to sit close to one another but know now you are sitting behind the steering wheel and I am sitting way over here next to the door. Why don't we sit close together anymore?" The husband smiled and replied, "I didn't move."

At the start of my spiritual journey, I remember praying with people around a church altar. I would ask them what they were praying for and often the would say they were seeking more of God. Now we know God is not a commodity you can get "more of." He is a person and technically you cannot get 'more' of a person. What they were meaning was they wanted a closer, more intimate relationship with God.

When you confess your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, you enter into a new relationship with God the Father. John14:6 But just as a newly wed couple begins a relationship, that relationship will grow only as they invest time and effort into building that relationship. Growing in our relationship with God is not all God's responsibly. Some people accept Christ and expect Him to build that relationship. Not so.

Come close to God and he will come close to you James 4:8

So you must continue to live in a way that gives meaning to your salvation. Do this with fear and respect for God. Philippians 2:12

If your relationship with God seems distant; I wonder who moved. Hebrews 13:5 Deuteronomy 3:16