Knowing His Name

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10)

Many only know God from a distance. They rely on what they may have heard or formed an opinion based on their own experience, separate from the influences of that which corresponds with reality. But if we took the time to get close, really up close and personal by being honest with ourselves and dealing rightly with the truth; digging into His Word with the purpose of gaining an intimacy with the person of God – then we would ‘know’ Him and His heart, and come to truly trust Him.

We miss out on so much God desires to pour into our lives because we try to understand Him through our own weak definitions and one sided experiences. We say He is cruel and doesn’t love us because He didn’t do what we wanted Him to do…. but isn’t that more of an indication of our narcissistic self interest than of His cruelty? Do we hold the same infinite viewpoint as He does? Are we ‘ever-present’ and ‘knowing all things’? Are we perfect love that cannot by His own nature not love? Are these not all ‘advantages’ to doing what is ‘good’? Are these not better than our shallow view of the butt end of life?

Our struggle is not with God, but with our commitment to self interest… it’s all about ‘me first.’

What is cool about God is… although our ability to participate in and enjoy His Love depends on our belief; His perfect, faithful, and sacrificial Love for us is available for our enjoyment as a ‘spring of everlasting water.’ God’s loving kindness or ‘hesed’ is driven by His perfect nature and is therefore faithful… regardless of the recipient’s faithlessness. Our beliefs, actions, and rejection have no power to influence, change, or negate God’s love for us. Because of this He is always right there at the point of your repentance to accept you; having loved you from the start. “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today]. Not only that, but we also rejoice in God [rejoicing in His love and perfection] through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received and enjoy our reconciliation [with God].” (Rom 5:10-11)

What is keeping you from ‘knowing’ God and enjoying His perfect love? Most likely it is your commitment to your own self interest. Hasn’t that commitment robbed you long enough of participating in His Perfect Holy love? Why settle for so much less than what God desires to flood your life with?

Choose wisely….

“But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness…. in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Psalms 86:15; Romans 8:37-39)

Praying 4 U

Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, grandfather, Pastor with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is the Associate Pastor of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church. He is the author of two devotional books, “From a Chair by the Window.” And “#PrayerWinsThe Day”.