Oh, give thanks to the LORD,
for He is good!
For His mercy edures forever.
Who can utter the mighty acts
of the LORD?
Who can declare all His Praise?
Blessed are those
who keep Justice,
and he who does
righteousness at all times.
Psalm 106:1-3
In writing this blog I had to make a decision as to how to approach this subject of God, our knowledge of Him and how to apply what is taught in the Bible to our lives. There are many devotional writings that are good and helpful, therefore so as not to add to the huge numerical number of devotions I decided not to approach Biblical subjects in that manner. Many of use and read and apply devotions to our lives and have those men and women that we enjoy and read. Like you I have my favorites as well, such as Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost For Your Highest" a daily devotional book that once was my dad's. But, a word of caution, if you have not really checked out the author and whether or not he is truly a Christian, a person who is not led into liberal theology, who devotionals are truly Biblical then you might be being led down a path that sounds godly but is far removed from what the Bible actually teaches. But how do we know whether or not what we read is truly Biblical? First, read your Bible! Second, read your Bible! Thirdly, memorize as much Scripture as you can and be ready to compare what is being said and written with Scripture for it is Scripture that interprets Scripture. I decided that to give aid in our study was to approach this more systematically and give more information that is much deeper than most Bible studies and most devotionals. Approaching on the doctrines that are found in the Bible and to give you information, weapons of warfare that you could use in your understanding and search. This study and research must be done to whomever is writing myself included. Just to take facts without understanding from where they come and how they line up with the teachings of the Bible is wrong. Become Bereans, study to show yourself approved and ready to give an answer to anyone who asks (2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Corinthians 5:12; 1 Peter 3:15.
Our understanding of God and of ourselves should give to us a sense of confidence and joy. A joy that is not understood by the world as they see us in the light of circumstances that envelop our lives and see how we have a quiet spirit and a hope in God who will take the bad and make it good (Genesis 50:20). We look to God, not in total understanding of Him, for He is inconceivable, incomprehensible and we can only partially know Him, but we have faith in God who so constituted us so that we can know of Him, some things about Him, those things He has revealed of Himself. Our knowledge of God may be partial but it is not inadequate. Inadequacies become part of our lives when we fail to live according to His principles and precepts or allow that we cannot know God enough so as to really believe He exists and is personally involved in your life. To say other is to cause a person to live in a vacuum and nothing in a vacuum moves and is stagnant. We then look to other means to fill that vacuum and far too often we do and find that what we found was not what we were looking for and are left with memories that make us sad. It was Francesa, in Dante's "The Inferno" Canto V who said: "There is no greater sorrow than to be mindful of the happy time in misery, and that thy teacher knows." What we believe to give us happiness is so often only a sad memory. But, to live as God and our Savior Jesus Christ commanded is to live in such a way as bring to us the greatest of happiness, the greatest of memories, we do not live in a vacuum for our lives are filled with the knowledge of God, His Son, and that the Holy Spirit resides in us to aid and give peace and comfort.
We know that God knows but we do not know in what relation His knowledge has in regards to His objects. we know that He acts, but we do not know how He acts or how His actions bears upon time, us, and all that is created. We know that He feels, He loves, He pities, He is merciful and He is gracious. We also know that He hates sin! We do not understand how we know these things, it is just, that we know them to be true but not how. We can recognize matter, we can perceive and think, but we do not know how! Our knowledge of ourselves is so imperfect and partial, so why should we think that God who is greater than all things, infinite, immutable, could be otherwise in our thinking and understanding? God is Spirit and those who come to Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth (John 4:24). God is an object of knowledge and this knowledge of Him does not cease to be when we come to know Him, His power and His omnipotence, His omniscience any more than that when space ceases to be be space because it is infinite.
But, how do we know God? This is the work of the next blog. This is important for men and women are running to worship services that are feeding their emotions, but not really aiding them to come to a true understanding of God. It is all about feeling, their feelings, and how they are so religious because of those feelings. Yes, God is so wonderful and great, so merciful, and so gracious, yet is is a hard taskmaster who will deal with sin and sinners. Therefore it is important to fully, as best we can, come to know how we know God.
The LORD is good to those
who wait for Him,
to the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should
hope and wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:25-26
May God Be The Joy Of Your Heart
Richard L. Crumb
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