How you doin? I'm always amazed at how simple God is, but how complex I am. Unnecessarily complex. I'm created in God's image, so too should be keeping it simple. I always liked the saying "too smart for your own good". I didn't realize how Biblical it is. 1 Corinthians 8 today.
The first 3 verses got me the most today. "Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God." I can't imagine anything better then being known by God. When I was younger, I was thrilled when my friends were playing music at a local bar. I loved the fact that the band knew me. When I think about it, any time in my life when the people of importance or the featured people of an event knew me and I knew them, I was thrilled. It's even better the closer the relationship I have with that person(s).
I feel very comfortable with our local emergency room because my mother-in-law is the director of the emergency room. She knows me. If I was in a situation involving the police, I feel better if one of the officers knew me. I would rather have someone who knows me work on my car or house. I believe they would take extra care and give extra attention to detail and the quality of their work. All this applies to people who think fondly of me.
I feel very comfortable with our local emergency room because my mother-in-law is the director of the emergency room. She knows me. If I was in a situation involving the police, I feel better if one of the officers knew me. I would rather have someone who knows me work on my car or house. I believe they would take extra care and give extra attention to detail and the quality of their work. All this applies to people who think fondly of me.
So let's take a look at verse 3, "But whoever loves God is known by God." Verse 1 tells us that"knowledge puffs up while love builds up". Knowledge of God is nothing compared to love for God. COME ON!!!!!!! Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" WOW!!!!!!! Not only does Jesus say "I never knew you", but he says, "Away from me you evil doers". The list of acts/deeds by these false disciples performed is impressive as well. Performance comes after the relationship. That's a good word. If I were to say to the members of the Grateful Dead, "I saw every one of your shows from 1993 to 1995" they could easily say to me that they still don't know me. I never even met any of them, let alone had a relationship with them. Throughout the Old Testament God says several times, "they refuse to hear me, listen to me, or pay attention to me". God makes it clear that he wants a relationship with me. So much so that He sent His Son here to redeem me so I can be reconciled to Him. AWESOME!!!!!!!
I've always had this image or picture of judgement. I'm in a courtroom. God is the Judge, Jesus is my defense attorney, and Satan is the prosecutor. Sadly enough I'm very familiar with this scene in the natural. Let me tell you how important it is for your defense attorney to know you. The first thing the Judge ask is "will you be representing the defendant?". I really want Jesus to answer yes when my vision becomes a reality.
I'm trying to land this. I tend to battle with what I need to do to be closer to God. To be more aware of His Holy Spirit (there you go Jerry). To follow Jesus more closely. According to 1 Corinthians 8:3, I need to love Him. According to Matthew 7:21, I need to do His will. I can't help but to think that these two things go hand and hand. Matthew 23:37-38, "Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment." John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commands." John 14:23, "Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." Love God today.
PS In my desire and seeking for knowledge of how to grow closer to Father God, I always come to love. Love Him and receive His love. Keep it simple
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