BIBLE PASSAGE:
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 with claiming to know the Lord 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 us
to know Him. If we try to know him on our terms and not His, we
are fooling ourselves about our relationship with Him, aren’t we?
The Bible clearly states in simple terms that we only know Him IF
we ‘keep His commands’. The danger in trying to know Him based
on our own requirements is – we will treat His commands as a type
of smorgasbord where we can choose 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 members
of the 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)
Did you notice the verses in Hebrews tell us that we should ‘meet together’
‘even more’ (not less) as the Lord’s return gets nearer. We know there are
situations that can prevent some from meeting together physically, but
that doesn’t mean we can’t ‘meet together’ spiritually. The question we
should ask ourselves is, “Where is my spirit of worship?”. Maybe a better
question to ask is,
“How does God view my worship spirit;
what does He read in my heart?”
We could look at many more examples, but this one is a good example
of 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. Satan stands ready to assist us in justifying why we do not
keep these commands, but our rationale only appeases ourselves
and other people; none of our justifications appease, or please God.
ACTION:
Questions to consider:
– Do I know the Lord….on His terms?
– Are there commands that I am ‘not keeping’?
We need to stop justifying why we are ‘not keeping’ His commands
and start obeying them so we can know (really know) the Lord. We
don’t really want to continue living our life as a ‘liar’ do we?
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 2:4)
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers,
the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the
idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery
lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.
(Revelation 21:8)
Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.
(1 John 2:6)
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me if I have convinced 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 prepares me for living with You in heaven, but it 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.”
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