HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THE LORD?

SCRIPTURE:
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 
Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is 
a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 
(1 John 2:3-4)

MEDITATION:
There are many folks who say they know the Lord, but do they?
The problem is, too many want to claim they know Him 
based on their own criteria for knowing Him, and not His.
This is the reason it is important to spend time reading the Bible.

If we want to know the Lord’s criteria for knowing Him then we need 
to read God’s Word to see what qualifications He has for knowing Him. 
If we try to know him on our terms and not His, 
we are fooling ourselves about our relationship with Him.

The Bible clearly states in simple terms 
that we know Him IF we ‘keep His commands’.
However, if we frame our own requirements for knowing Him, 
then we treat His commands as a smorgasbord 
and we select which commands we will ‘keep’.

For instance, God’s command is to return to Him 
ten percent of the blessings He has given us.
We are told that when we do not, not only are we ‘not keeping’ His command, 
but we are also stealing from Him!
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, 
‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. (Malachi 3:8)

Think about the severity of that comment – “robbing God”!
That can lead to ‘not keeping’ other commands from the Lord.
Some feel guilty about not putting their tithes in the offering plates, 
so they decide to stop going to church or attend less, 
so they will feel less guilty for their disobedience (out of sight, out of mind).

However, God’s Word tells us that we are to meet together as a family of God.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and 
good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit 
of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see 
the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
We are told that we should meet together even more 
as the Lord’s return gets nearer.

We could look at many more examples, but this just shows 
how ‘the truth is not in’ some people who claim to know the Lord.
Why? Because they are ‘not keeping’ these two commands of the Lord.
Of course Satan is ready to assist in justifying why we do not keep 
these commands, but that only appeases other individual, and not God.

ACTION:
Do you know the Lord on His terms?
Are there commands that you are ‘not keeping’?
Stop justifying why you are ‘not keeping’ His commands
and start obeying them in order to know Him.
You don't really want to remain a 'liar' do you?
Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2:6)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me for convincing myself that I know 
You, when I am ‘not keeping’ Your commands. When I read Your 
Word and see Your criteria for knowing You, I am convicted that 
the truth is not in me. I know that ‘keeping’ Your commands is 
also good for me as I live out my time on earth. Show me my failures 
and encourage the Holy Spirit to motivate me to start ‘keeping’ Your 
commands – all of them. I want to fully know You now, so that I can 
enjoy spending eternity with You later.”