Have you ever had someone you wanted very much to meet? Perhaps you’ve imagined twenty different ways you could meet that person. Maybe you’ve dreamed about how your conversation would go. Maybe you have a friend or acquaintance who knows the person well, and you can get a pretty good idea of what that person is like. A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet someone whom I have been wanting to meet for several months. And somehow all those expectations of how it would go fell flat. I didn’t know what to say, where to start. My mind was racing, desperately trying to find some straw to grasp. I wanted to begin getting to know this person, but I was drawing a blank as to how to accomplish that. Perhaps you’ve been there too, feeling foolish and nervous and stressed. As I’ve thought about that encounter, I realized that I’ve been there before, but in a much more desperate position.
The One I was seeking to know was God, and my want to know Him was much greater: it was a deep, desperate craving. Maybe you know that need too: recognize the driving desire. Perhaps you’ve seen His working in other’s lives and you long to see Him work in yours. Maybe you’ve seen Him provide for some need you had and want to know Him more. Or maybe you’ve heard someone talking about how God has led them or has answered their prayers. Maybe you’re wondering if He would do the same for you. So we decide to seek God and get to know Him. And then the realization dawns on us – we aren’t sure how exactly to do that. Friend, I have news for you. Getting to know God is not something that only the ‘elite’ can figure out. In fact, it is rather straight-forward.
The first step is to realize that God shares our desire for us to be in a close relationship with Him. God created each of us and from the time of our birth He has been drawing us to Himself with cords of love. Though we have been busy disobeying God and doing our own thing, He tells us that it is not His desire to condemn us. Instead He lovingly provided a way that we could be forgiven and be joined to Him with no work on our part. He sent His Son Jesus to live a perfect life, and then die on the cross, paying the penalty of our disobedience to God. All we have to do to receive this forgiveness is to agree with God that what we have done deserves death, that we cannot earn His forgiveness, and by faith accept Jesus’ death and resurrection as the payment of our sin. After you take this step, you can begin to know God; not merely collect facts about Him.
Today, I’ll share three ways we can get to know God. The first is listening to Him. In our inter-personal relationships, we do this all the time. Sometimes people will tell us lies and then one day we are devastated when we find out who they really are. However, that is not the case with God. He cannot lie and so as we read His Word to us (the Bible), we can be confident that what we read is true. When He says that He is the Lord, full of mercy, and compassion, we can joyfully accept that knowing that God does not lie. When He says that He will be found of those who seek Him, we can embrace that promise. When He says He will judge and will reward each person according to their works, we can know without a doubt that He will. As you read the Bible, you can write down the things you learn as you listen to Him share who He is.
Another part of getting to know God is talking to Him through prayer. Praying is more than just asking for things. Not that we never ask God for things, but there is much more to prayer. It really is our way of talking to Him. We can pour out our hearts to Him in our times of struggle. We can confide in Him when we have something we can’t share with anyone else. We can share with Him what fills our hearts with joy. We can ask Him questions and know that He will never be angry with us for asking the same questions again and again. He listens to our prayers and will answer (not always the way that we thought He would or should, but He does answer). And sometimes He blesses with things that we may not have asked Him for, but He knows that we would enjoy. As your relationship with God grows through prayer, you will discover more and more about Him. And as you do, you can share with others both what you discover, and the truth that they too can have a relationship with God.
The last thing I’ll share today that can help you get to know God is watching Him. When you are learning to know a person, you can discover a lot about them by watching their interactions with other people and the circumstances they find themselves in. It can be a bit difficult to try to apply that straight across to God. After all, it’s not like we can see Him. But we can see Him provide what we or others need. We can go for a walk and see the birds and know that God is the One who gives them food. We see the rain and know that God is the One who sent it and has a purpose for it. When you read the Bible, and come across the accounts of Abraham, Ruth, David, Joseph, Mary, and so many others, you can see God’s working in their lives. And you can look back over your own life and see His working. As you watch God, and marvel at His wisdom and working, check your perspective in His word to make sure you aren’t mistaken. Then use those experiences to share with others about God, who He is, what He does, and His love for all people.
Friend, I don’t know where you are. Maybe you’ve never thought much about God; never deemed yourself as having any worth to Him. Let me encourage you to think about Him. He loves you deeply and desires to reveal Himself to you. Maybe you are trying to figure out how to find God, how to get to know Him. I hope this is helpful, and I pray that your desire for Him will be filled as you earnestly seek Him. Maybe you had your time of seeking God, but for one reason or another have left it. I encourage you to renew your heart and let God renew your love and desire for Him. We can never reach a point where we know everything about God. There is always an opportunity to go deeper in your relationship with God.
“Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou said, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord will I seek” (Psalm 27:7-8).
“Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not . . . seek me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:18-19,22).
Hope in truth 