Knowing God
by Ron Scurfield
"Don`t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Philip had not fully appreciated who Jesus was. He could see no further than the outward appearance. He didn’t know Him. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Philip hadn’t made the connection.
I met someone recently who I thought I recognised from many years ago. My mind went into fast recall. Do I know you? Where? When? Then it dawned on me. I remembered. But did I know him? Although he had been a friend at one time, had I ever really known him? Or was he just an acquaintance?
Do we really know Jesus? Or do we just see Him as a friend? Someone we can trust, who cares for us. In whom, through the cross, we have salvation and eternal life. But do we know Him or just know about Him? People often say, “I know He loves me, but I can’t feel it.” To really know someone, we need to have a close relationship with them and be at one with them.
As Christians, what do we know? We know we were created in God’s image. We know that He has loved us from the beginning, even before the creation of the world. We know He has plans for our lives and sent his Son to die for our salvation. We know we are born again by His Spirit. We know the truth and the power of His word. We believe what He says, and we trust Him. We know it is not His will that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance, by the saving grace of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9). We’re surrounded by His truth, His love and His presence. We can know all these things about who He is, but He wants us to really get to know Him intimately.
How do we do this? We can’t see Him because He has no outward appearance. God is Spirit, and it’s by the Spirit that we know Him.
Prayer: Father, I know You love me and care for me. I know You are with me always. I know You will never let me fall. My life is in Your hands. I just want to rest in the security of Your loving arms and know You more. I draw near to You now, as You draw near to me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Ron Scurfield with his wife Jill, are part of the Associate Ministry Team at Ellel Grange and occasionally Ellel Scotland. Ron enjoys walking and writing and meeting interesting people, but his greatest joy is seeing God transform lives, setting people free to live the abundant life that Jesus intended.
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