But now that you know God —or rather are known by God …
Summary: Being known by God is an experience no false god can ever provide. The real God is really personal, and he knows you extremely well.
When I was a little kid, I knew about God. My parents took me to church, and I remember going to Vacation Bible School one summer. God made the sun, the Earth, and the sky. God made people, and God made rules. Somehow, God made Jesus, too.
As the years went by, I struggled to know God. As a little kid, I seemed to have a real connection with God. As I grew older, that connection became strained, and I wandered down some dark paths.
I didn’t sleep well in those years. I didn’t have peace during the daytime, either. There were voices in my head that seemed hell-bent on making my life miserable. All kinds of doubts and fears populated my thoughts during the day. Visions of angry deeds filled my thoughts at night.
I knew about God, but I didn’t know God.
God, however, knew me.
He persisted in trying to get my attention. He continued to shine his light in my eyes. He allowed me to stub my toes so I would become aware that I needed his light to show me the way.
Maybe that is why Paul adds this clarification “… or rather are known by God.”
God knows us. Intimately.
Because he knows us, he knows what we need and what we were made to be and do. And he wants us to be successful at being the person he made us to be.
Somewhere along the way, I started to get to know God. Some people’s stories are crystal clear. In their story, there is a single point in time where everything comes into focus. My story is not like that. In my story, I was like a stubborn nail stuck in a knot. God had to pound on me time and time again. Finally, one day, the nail began to move.
These days I know God and I know I am known by God.
There is no doubt in my mind. God’s hammer has left too many impressions. My mind is clear, and my sleep is peaceful. It is the sleep that comes with a conscience washed in the blood of Christ. It is the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7)
Application: God knows you. Get to know God.
Food for Thought: How do you know you are known by God?
One way is by trusting in His promises. He has promised that He knows me and that I am His child through faith in Christ. Now all I have to do is believe Him (John 1: 12 – 13; Romans 8: 14 – 17; Romans 14: 18; 1 Corinthians 6: 19; Ephesians 1: 13 – 14; 1 John 3: 1, 19 – 20; 1 John 5: 11 – 13; Psalm 100: 3; Isaiah 43: 1
Thank you, Brother.
Great verses! I put a link here.
I have to say that in the times when I have asked the Lord for intervention in my own life, He has proven to me time and time again that He knows me better than I know myself. He has proven that He KNOWS me.
I have asked for healing in my heart, deliverance from sin, release from anger and pain, and then the Lord begins working on an area in my life that I think has nothing to do with what I asked, only to realize much later that the seemingly illogical, back and forth, pause and run again way He answered my prayer brought me closer to Him, and the anger, pain, and gravity toward sin dissipated. The healing came as a result of removing the barriers to my faith in Him. This is proof to me that God knows me.
I can read in God’s Word, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, that He knew everyone the same way. In His blessing and His judgement, He knew their hearts. His response was always tailored to who they were in their hearts.
Psalm 139
O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
Chris,
What a beautiful description of our relationship with the Lord!
What you say is true. Even if we can’t see the connections between what we ask for and what God is doing in our lives, there are connections. Sometimes in retrospect, those connections become apparent as you have described. Occasionally, the Lord let’s us see what is going on real time.
Well said!
How do you know you are known by God?
God is omnipotent, all-knowing, all-loving and faithful. He rules over all and holds us securely in His hand. Knowing this helps us stand, firmly, against all that threatens to defeat and destroy us.
Galatians 1:15-16, Ephesians 1:4, 1 Corinthians 8:3
Romans 8:29, For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
All creation is the work of God who in His Foreknowledge knows all by name, knows all who have/will receive Christ as well as all who will reject His call. At the same time, lacking His Foreknowledge, we do not! Therefore we need to be given this opportunity, and will receive eternal life with God or separation from God based upon the true condition of our hearts.
Mark 13:32, But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
We live not knowing the day Jesus will return, but in the full assurance, total reliance in the fact that as believers we have been cleansed and will be eternally in the presence of our Lord and Savior.
Hebrews 10:22, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Thank you, Ron!
Excellent! 🙂
How do you know you are known by God?
He hears my prayers. Every day I’m reminded of that when I see my wife.
Thank you, Tim!
What a beautiful truth!!