This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise man gloat in his wisdom, or the mighty man in his might, or the rich man in his riches. Let them boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who is just and righteous, whose love is unfailing, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken. – Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NLT)
I can not stop thinking about this verse. I have read it over and over for the past few weeks. Let them boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who is… I have really be thinking about what it means to know God. And I keep wondering do I really know Him… am I honestly seeking after more? Am I crying out for more wisdom, revelation, knowledge, and understanding (Prov. 2:3-5, Eph. 1:17)? Is getting to know Him the most important thing in my life (Hosea 6:6, Matt. 22:37-38)?
John 17:3 tells me that the way to have eternal life is to know God and Jesus. Hebrews 6:9 tells me that I am meant for better things, things that come with salvation. Salvation is just the beginning! There are good things that come with salvation – with accepting Jesus, receiving the Holy Spirit, and having eternal life! And to have eternal life is to know God. So maybe, as I seek to know God more and more, and pray for revelation and understanding, then I can grow and mature as a Christian (Heb. 6:1,3, Luke 8:11-15). And maybe, as I grow and mature as a Christian then I can receive the good things that accompany salvation!
So, as I’m wondering what it means to really know God, I am thinking that growth and maturity are a big part of it. As I seek to know God more it changes things… it changes me… how I live, how I love, how I serve… At least, it should be changing me! (Eph. 4:23-24, Gal. 6:15-16, 2 Corinth. 5:17). I should be growing stronger, more confident, and more powerful in Christ. There should be a braking down of strongholds that keep me from knowing Him (1 Corinth. 4:20, 2 Corinth. 10:4-5). I should be producing good fruit (Gal. 5:22-25, Col. 3:12-15, Phil.1:11, Matt. 12:33, John 15:5,8, Rom. 7:4). I should constantly be changing as I continue to seek and chase after the things of God (Col. 3:10)!
In Matthew 16:13-20 Jesus asked his disciples who other people said that He was. They answered with all kinds of things… Elijah, John the Baptist, Jeremiah… But then He asked them, “Who do you say I am?”
I love when I come across something that I have heard or read many times and it is like I am seeing it for the first time! That is how this story has been for me. Jesus is asking me, “Who do you say that I am?” He doesn’t want to know who the most popular preacher from the biggest church says He is, He doesn’t want to know what the newest book about Him says that He is, He doesn’t want to know who I have been told He is from a latest podcast or coolest worship song, He doesn’t even want to know who my Pastor tells me He is on Sunday mornings (sorry Pastor Steve)… When He asks me who I think He is He wants an answer from me!
Matthew 16:15-17 – Then He asked them, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” and Jesus replied, “You are blessed Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this you. You did not learn this from any human being.”
I do not want to live my life with this “idea” of who I have been told God is. I don’t want to base my entire relationship with Jesus on what I have heard that He is like. I want to know Him… by experience… for myself.
I want to know who God is, what He is like, what He feels, and thinks, and what He desires – by experience. I want to have fresh encounters with Him – everyday! I want to have my own revelations from the Father! He is alive and I want to live life with Him. I want to know that He is a healer because I have seen Him heal. I want to know that He is a deliverer because I have been set free. I want to know He is my provider because I’ve witnessed His provision. I want to trust Him because I’ve seen Him keep His promises. I want to know He is merciful and compassionate and gracious because I have seen it, I’ve felt it, I’ve experienced it… I want to know His heart because He has allowed me to feel what He feels. I want to KNOW Him… I don’t just want to know about Him! In John 17:20 (NLT) Jesus prays, “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who believe in me because of their testimony.” I don’t want to know God through someone who can testify to who God is in their life! I want to know God because my life is a testimony of who He is!
I want to build a relationship with Him. I want to build a track record with Him – have a history with Him – just live everyday life with Him. I want to be able to know who God is today, and who He will be tomorrow, because I can look back and see who He has been to me in the past – personally… for real… by experience (Heb. 13:8)!
I don’t want to be a person who claims to know Jesus by association. I don’t want to say, “Hey, let me tell you about my best friend’s sister’s husband’s second cousin… him and Jesus are always having crazy adventures together… just last week….” No, I want to be a person who proclaims to know Jesus by experience. I want to say, “Hey, let me tell you what Jesus did last week, and 3 days ago, and yesterday, and already today He has….”
I want to hear God, and see God, and talk with God, and experience God – everyday! I want new revelations of who God is – everyday! I want my daily bread! I want to be able to live on the solid food of the Word and grow in my knowledge of Him! Oh Lord, teach me how to eat! I want more (Heb. 5:13-14, Heb. 6:1, Matt. 6:11, Deut. 8:3, Matt. 4:4)!
LORD, HEAR MY CRY! I WANT TO KNOW YOU. I NEED TO! I NEED YOU! I WANT TO KNOW MORE AND MORE OF WHO YOU ARE – EVERYDAY! I HAVE TO! I WANT TO KNOW MORE AND MORE OF WHO I AM AND WHAT I AM TO DO BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE! I WANT MORE! I HAVE TO KNOW YOU – FOR REAL!
This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise man gloat in his wisdom, or the mighty man in his might, or the rich man in his riches. Let them boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who is just and righteous, whose love is unfailing, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken. – Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NLT)
