THE BIBLE TELLS US HOW WE CAN KNOW GOD AND NOT JUST KNOW ABOUT HIM

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 
(1 John 4:8)

MEDITATION:
If we want to ‘know’ God, then we need to adopt His characteristics.
The Bible tells us that not only does God love, but He represents love.
Only a loving God would create a plan of salvation for mankind 
that includes the sacrifice of His only Son for our transgressions.

Throughout our lives, others can disappoint us, offend us, and hurt us.
The question we have to answer is, “How do I handle these situations?”
The natural inclination is to strike back, to retaliate, 
and to make them miserable in return.

But, is that how God treats us whenever we offend Him?
No, He loves us anyway because His love can absorb our failures.
His love is solid and unaffected by the bad choices we make.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father 
of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)

That doesn’t mean there are not consequences to our actions,
but it doesn’t destroy His love for us.
My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,
because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. 
(Proverbs 3:11-12)

Why would a loving God discipline us?
Because He is motivated by love and He knows 
what we need to help us turn away from our wicked ways.
He may hate our actions, but He doesn’t hate us; and He loves it 
when His discipline causes us to pursue righteousness over sin. 
The LORD detests the way of the wicked, 
but he loves those who pursue righteousness. (Proverbs 15:9)

Sometimes His discipline can be painful and feel unreasonable 
until we realize why He does the things He does.
And when we do, instead of being rebellious, 
we learn to thank Him for His actions, because we know 
that His discipline is for our good and is a result of His love for us.

ACTION:
How are you mimicking the Lord’s love in your own life?
When someone offends or disappoints you, do you withhold your love from them?
First of all, why do the actions of others offend you?
Isn’t it because they fail to meet your expectations?
Doesn’t that sound like selfishness?

We cannot expect everyone to fulfill our definition of how they should live.
God made every individual unique, 
which means we will not always see things in the same way.
If we withhold our love when we are offended or hurt, then we 
will miss out on enjoying the good qualities and characteristics of others.

If we know the actions of someone have exceeded the boundaries established 
by God, then we have a responsibility to pray for them and let God change them.
Too often we want to help God in correcting them 
and the truth is, He doesn’t need our help.
We do not have the right or the authority to judge others; that is God’s 
responsibility because He knows more about them than we will ever know.

If we want to “know” God 
we should be more concerned with expressing love through forgiveness.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not 
be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to 
you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will 
be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to 
you.” (Luke 6:37-38)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, help me to love others with the same kind of love 
You have for me. Forgive me for my efforts to change others by 
withholding my love from them. Teach me to forgive rather than 
retaliating, and to love rather than holding a grudge. Thank You 
for Your discipline that helps me to pursue righteousness instead 
of sinfulness. Help me to pray for others, to focus on their good 
qualities, and to avoid assuming Your position of judging, 
disciplining and changing them. Remind me that in order to know 
You, I should love others.” 

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