To Know God

A.W. Tozer once wrote, “The great need of the hour among persons spiritually hungry is twofold: first, to know the Scriptures, apart from which no saving truth will be [granted] by our Lord; the second, to be enlightened by the Spirit, apart from whom the Scriptures will not be understood.” (The Root of the Righteous, 13)

To truly know God begins with faith that turns to confession. Paul wrote in Romans 10:9-10, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Again, in verse 17, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

To know God involves knowing the Scriptures. That is why Jesus said in John 8:31-32, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” This means we need to spend time in the Bible daily. To memorize and know God’s word thoroughly. To meditate upon it day and night (Ps. 1:2).

Ezra stands as our example. He was one who first studied the Law of the Lord desiring to know it thoroughly. Then he practiced it. He applied it to his own life. Then he went out and taught God’s word to others. Ezra 7:10 says, "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel." That is how we should be as well.

This is a time of year in which everyone is often busily hurrying about this way and that. We leave town for long periods of time; traveling, going on vacation. And thus, it is a time in which God’s word is often neglected in our daily lives. It is a time, perhaps more than any other, in which we need to set aside a few minutes each day so that we can meditate on God’s word to learn and know it better. To keep applying it in our lives. To be prepared to teach it to others.

Psalm 111:2 says, "The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them." Take pleasure in the Word of God. "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). Study to show yourself approved. Study to know God. Amen.