“‘Let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the Lord” ( Jeremiah 9:24 24 but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he hath understanding, and knoweth me, that I am Jehovah who exerciseth lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith Jehovah. ).

Unless we have a personal relationship with Him, we don’t really know Him.

We have studied many truths about God this month, but just knowing the facts is not enough. Knowing facts about God doesn’t necessarily mean knowing God, any more than knowing American history means you know Abraham Lincoln. Some of the most learned theologians in history, with great grasp of the facts about God, had no faith in God. They knew about God, but Christ will say to them on their day of judgment, “I never knew you; depart from Me” (Matt. 7:23).

The heart of knowing God is relationship. God is a relational being and has made us relational also, so that we might know Him. And like human relationships, knowing God requires time and commitment.

Of course, the first step in knowing God is salvation. When we were unsaved, we were enemies of God (Rom. 5:10), but now we are His friends ( John 15:14-15 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known unto you. ). Once begun, this friendship is cultivated by studying the Bible and praying. God communicates His heart to us through His Word, and we communicate our hearts to Him in prayer.

Our fellowship with God is hindered by neglect. As a parallel, if you never spoke with your best friend, the friendship would suffer. Sin also harms our relationship with God because it moves us away from Him. We must remove whatever might hinder the relationship by continually confessing our sins ( 1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ), diligently studying His Word ( Ezra 7:10 10 For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances. ), and devoting ourselves to prayer (Col. 4:2).

These things must be done with a fervent desire to know Him. We must have the heart of Paul who says, “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:8), and of David who says, “Thy face, O Lord, I shall seek” (Ps. 27:8). Then we will “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” ( 2 Peter 3:18 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him `be' the glory both now and for ever. Amen. ).

Suggestions for Prayer

Pray that God would strengthen your desire to know Him.

For Further Study

Read Psalms 42 Chapter 42 1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 4 These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, How I went with the throng, and led them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping holyday. 5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And `why' art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him `For' the help of his countenance. 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: Therefore do I remember thee from the land of the Jordan, And the Hermons, from the hill Mizar. 7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterfalls: All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 8 `Yet' Jehovah will command his lovingkindness in the day-time; And in the night his song shall be with me, `Even' a prayer unto the God of my life. 9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 10 As with a sword in my bones, mine adversaries reproach me, While they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, `Who is' the help of my countenance, and my God. .

• What was the psalmist’s passion?
• What characterized his life despite his troubles?

From Strength for Today by John MacArthur Copyright © 1997. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

• The Study Bible (mobile app)
• Grace to You Sermons (mobile app)
• John MacArthur’s complete sermon archive
• The MacArthur Study Bible
• The complete MacArthur New Testament Commentary series