KNOWING GOD VERSUS KNOWING ABOUT GOD. IT GETS PERSONAL !

One of the most important questions any person who identifies as a Christian can ask themselves is WHY ? What does it mean to be a Christian ? Is it because you were raised in a Christian home or family ? Is it because you go to a Christian church ? Is it because you read the Bible ? Is it because you have a set of beliefs that align with Christian teachings ? All of these things have value, but I Believe that Identifying as a Christian goes much DEEPER ! As one matures in their faith, gaining Knowledge of God and His Character and Commandments is very important. Much time can truly be spent in historical study and doctrinal significance and nuance, but I believe that one must go Deeper ! There are many things in our lives that we can gain knowledge about, but until we Engage and Participate in actively making it an integral part of Who We Are, does it have Significance ? Without that PERSONAL PASSION, anything will eventually just become a pastime. It will become an occasional pursuit that only finds relevance when time permits. THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT DEMAND YOUR TIME AND MORE IMPORTANTLY ENGAGE YOUR ENTIRE BEING…BOTH MIND AND HEART :) I always find it amazing that GOD so often CHOOSES someone to do Significant Work for His Kingdom who may do it very reluctantly and even at times wants to “run away” from the responsibility ! So many of the people that God used for His Purpose were flawed or imperfect. Think about Moses, David, Rahab, and many more. Many of the Prophets God spoke through were downright obstinate or unwilling to listen. Jonah said, No Thanks; Hosea had to endure incredible ridicule and disdain from society, culture, and religious contempt. The point that sealed their eventual participation in God’s Purpose was obviously PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP ! They simply could not Run Away from God’s Love and Belief in them as His Perfect Instruments for allowing His People to Hear Him ! GOD WANTS HIS PEOPLE TO HEAR HIS VOICE PERSONALLY, AND ACT UPON IT ! True Change in our lives comes when we Apply God’s Word and Love directly Into Ourselves. Messages and sermons can be “Great”, but until we open our own hearts to See The Impact For Us, are they really Changing anything ? THE GOSPEL IS ABOUT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST ! It is about HIM DYING FOR ME AND YOU ! Coming to earth to bring mankind back into relationship with The Father; taking our sins onto Him; dying on a Cross in our place; In a grave for 3 days, but then, being RESURRECTED BACK TO LIFE ! Our Sins Forgiven: Our lives secured for ETERNITY ! Jesus reigning at the right hand of The Father…..and US ? HIS BODY; Unity In Him; Reborn, changed, and Made into A New Creation :) HOW ? PERSONAL BELIEF AND COMMITMENT !

HE WAS IN THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD WAS MADE THROUGH HIM, YET THE WORLD DID NOT KNOW HIM. HE CAME TO HIS OWN, AND HIS OWN PEOPLE DID NOT RECEIVE HIM. BUT TO ALL WHO DID RECEIVE HIM, WHO BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD, WHO WERE BORN, NOT OF BLOOD NOR OF THE WILL OF THE FLESH NOR THE WILL OF MAN, BUT OF GOD. John 1:10-13

AND THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE, THAT THEY KNOW YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST WHOM YOU HAVE SENT. John 17:3

DRAW NEAR TO GOD, AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU. CLEANSE YOUR HANDS, YOU SINNERS, AND PURIFY YOUR HEARTS, YOU DOUBLE MINDED. James 4:8

It seems that GOD is looking for more than simple knowledge. HE IS LOOKING FOR CLOSE RELATIONSHIP. In a close relationship one must see Trust, Communication, Clarity, Vulnerability, Forgiveness, and most of all LOVE ! Each of us have people in our lives that we would call aquaintances. We have knowledge of them; what they do, their community, and other surface items….but DO WE TRULY KNOW THEM ? GOD WANTS INTIMACY ! He wants to know all the things that make you tick. YOUR WHOLE PERSON, including behavior, thoughts, dreams, joys, fears, strengths, weaknesses and most of all YOUR HEART:) THE REAL AND DEEP YOU ! The you that often hides behind things, innately realizing your own struggles. This relationship IS NOT SHALLOW OR SURFACE BASED. It takes work and commitment. A hunger and thirst to go DEEPER ! For many “christians”, this is simply too big an ask. Too time consuming, too complicated, and just too hard. In His Mercy, God will bring many of these people into His Kingdom….but will they Reign and Be Complete to the degree HE DESIRES ? I don’t have the answer to that, but for me personally, HE IS CALLING FOR MORE. JESUS CHRIST HAS CALLED ME TO BE ALL IN ! That means a decision to SURRENDER MY LIFE AND WILL TO HIM. Spending my time in Relationship with CHRIST to grow and mature. Not Perfect, but Striving to Follow His Ways, Truth, And Life. He Is ALIVE and beside me :) I am Following and Walking WITH HIM. TOGETHER. ABIDING. CHANGING. GROWING. The perspective of RELATIONSHIP far outweighs history, theology, liturgy, and tradition. We use those things in many ways, both good and bad, but Jesus wants us focused on ONE THING. HIM ! We find True Community in the body of people who Follow and Serve HIM. Simply playing “religion” doesn’t cut it. Many Prophets in Scripture make it clear that GOD WANTS PURE AND DEVOTED HEARTS, not meaningless words and rituals. GOD WANTS REAL WORSHIP AND OBEDIENCE. God wants humility, neighborly love, and deep love and relationship. Ask yourself this question : Can I put myself LAST ? That means God and others come before SELF. Jesus said it was the entire KEY to the life He Promises. It Is A Choice….what will our answer be ?

THEN THE KING WILL SAY TO THOSE ON HIS RIGHT, “COME , YOU WHO ARE BLESSED BY MY FATHER, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. Matthew 25:34

IF WE ENDURE, WE WILL ALSO REIGN WITH HIM; IF WE DENY HIM, HE WILL ALSO DENY US. 2 Timothy 2:12

AND THE KINGDOM AND THE DOMINION AND THE GREATNESS OF THE KINGDOMS UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH; HIS KINGDOM SHALL BE AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM, AND ALL DOMINIONS SHALL SERVE AND OBEY HIM. Daniel 7:27

Seek a Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ. Abide in Him, and ask Him to Abide In You. Not only KNOW His Ways, LIVE THEM OUT IN YOUR LIFE :) The older I get, the more I realize that my True Guidance And Hope is in Jesus. Life isn’t always easy. Things change, the earthly body breaks down, and challenges multiply…but Jesus Is With Me, and You as well if you are HIS. Beliefs are meant to be meaningful and have PERSONAL IMPACT. How many people are out there just going through the motions ? DO NOT let that be YOU ! Jesus isn’t just a Savior…HE IS LIFE. Jesus isn’t just a story…HE CAN BE YOUR STORY ! If you have opened your mind to the possibility of Christ, then OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE TRUTH AND REALITY OF CHRIST. A good friend once asked me this : “ Is it better to look for a source of Light that can let you see, no matter how hard that is…or would you prefer to stay in Darkness and never see Anything ? CHOOSE THE LIGHT OF CHRIST….and you will be FREE :) KNOW HIM/JAA

THEREFORE LET US BE GREATFUL FOR RECEIVING A KINGDOM THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN, AND THUS LET US OFFER TO GOD ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP, WITH REVERENCE AND AWE. Hebrews12:28