Knowing God

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Ephesians 1:17 – Asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. (NLT)

Getting to know someone doesn't just happen — nor does getting to know God.

When I arrived in this world, the first person I met was a doctor. Then, I met the nurses, who handed me to a lady who snuggled me against her chest. A few minutes later, a man took me from the woman and cuddled me against his chest. Several days later, they took me to a strange place. They stuck a bottle in my mouth when I was hungry, changed my diaper when I soiled it, and rocked me to sleep. It took a while, but I began calling them Momma and Da Da at some point. But I didn't know all there was to know about them. That would take their lifetime and mine.

Getting to know God isn't much different than getting to know anyone else. Had my parents given me up for adoption, I would never have known them — unless they had chosen to reveal themselves later. Had I decided to leave them when I was old enough to care for myself, I wouldn't have learned the many wonderful things that I know now.

The theology book that I used in college was four inches thick and told anything that I could want to know about God. I've plowed through it several times, but that only tells me things about God. I could say the same for reading my Bible. It gives me information about God, but it doesn't guarantee that I'll know Him.

Paul's prayer for the Ephesians was that they'd get to know God. Before we can know God better, we must recognize that we need to. When we make this request of God, He will grant it and show us ways to make it happen. Studying Jesus' life in the gospels is an excellent place to start. Since He was God in human form, He shows us much of what we need to know about God and how He expects us to live. When we hunger to know God, the Bible and other sources become great avenues of information.

Knowledge about God is only mildly beneficial; personal knowledge of Him and His character will change our lives. After all, knowledge is of little use if we don't use it to better ourselves, others, and the world.

What can you do to know God better?

Prayer: Father, may we never be satisfied with just knowing about You. Guide us into completely knowing Who You are and who we are in a relationship with You. Amen.

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About the author:

Martin Wiles <mandmwiles@gmail.com>
Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
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1 thought on “Knowing God”

  1. Amen Martin.

    Well said Martin. Blessings.

    True – we know about God when we pray for God’s help.

    Thanks, Martin, for this encouragement to use what we know about God.

    Thanks Martin, as always, your devotional is so guiding and helpful. Blessings.

    Thanks for your devotional today, Martin. Getting to know God is a life-time challenge.

    Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today. You are a true blessing. Blessings.

    Thanks, Martin, for another of your informative and very meaningful writings. Blessings for a nice weekend.

    Hello Martin,
    AMEN!!!
    God bless.

    Good morning, Martin,
    Food for thought indeed, thank you.
    Blessings.

    This is a great reminder, Martin, that we need to seek to know God with both our heart and our mind. Thanks for the gentle nudge!

    Very good devotion, Martin. Thanks for sharing your wisdom this morning. It takes time to know him but what an unimaginable blessing.

    Thank you, Martin.
    Matthew 7:7-8 – comes to mind as I reflect on your Devotional today. It was lovely from start to finish.

    Hi Martin,
    I like your analogy about knowing God, as we came to know our own parents.
    Thank you!

    Greetings:
    Ongoing thanks for your contributions.
    I forwarded this one to our church family today.
    Every blessing to you and yours.
    (ON)

    Thank you for your devotional about knowing God more. I’m thankful for my journey, and I’m 91 this year and several years ago I started reading Psalms and Proverbs every month along with more in the NT. I’m thankful for your reminder to know God better and to let the Holy Spirit teach us through His Word and our encounters with His love and grace.

    Thanks, Martin, for your message.
    What an amazing metaphor. Enjoyed the read.
    Hope the hurricane did not cause you too much damage to your home and surroundings.
    Blessings,
    (QC, CANADA)

    Good morning, Martin,
    Your devotional is the next step along our faith journey. Yesterday Yvonne related her grandmother starting her on knowing about God and you extend the learning of with the importance of knowing God.
    Thank you for always sharing your faith with us to help us think about our faith in different ways. Blessing.

    Hello Martin, I wish your text was posted at the entrance of every public Christian sanctuary maintained around the world (in their language of course):
    Knowledge about God is only mildly beneficial; personal knowledge of Him and His character will change our lives. After all, knowledge is of little use if we don’t use it to better ourselves, others, and the world.
    I appreciate how your text is clear and to the point.
    Thank you for today’s devotional.
    (Nova Scotia)

    Kudos to you for writing this devotional and paying homage to your Grandmother. She was a tuff Cookie but had faith like that of a mustard seed.
    Again, continue on this journey. One never know where it will lead you. I look forward to many more devotional from you in the future.
    Great writing and the references are on point.

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