Friday, April 27, 2018

Drawing Closer To God - He Knows Your Name - He Knows Your Every Thought



Do you seek great things for yourself? —Jeremiah 45:5

{CHAMBERS} “God wants you to be in a much closer relationship with Himself than simply receiving His gifts— He wants you to get to know Him. […] There is nothing easier than getting into the right relationship with God, unless it is not God you seek, but only what He can give you. If you have only come as far as asking God for things, you have never come to the point of understanding the least bit of what surrender really means. You have become a Christian based on your own terms. You protest, saying, “I asked God for the Holy Spirit, but He didn’t give me the rest and the peace I expected.” And instantly God puts His finger on the reason– you are not seeking the Lord at all; you are seeking something for yourself. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you…” (Matthew 7:7). Ask God for what you want and do not be concerned about asking for the wrong thing, because as you draw ever closer to Him, you will cease asking for things altogether. “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). Then why should you ask? So that you may get to know Him. […] Are you prepared to ask yourself what it is you want from God and why you want it? […] He is not concerned about making you blessed and happy right now, but He’s continually working out His ultimate perfection for you— “…that they may be one just as We are one…” (John 17:22).”

{ELGIN}  I commented to someone the other day that children have no idea how food comes to be on the table.  Why the lights come on when they flip the switch.  How it is that there is furniture in the house.  The reason, of course, is because their parents have provided for them.  They may not like vegetables, but they know that they need food and somehow it is there, and if not, mom or dad will go to the store.  But where does the money come from?  They don’t know and don’t really care .. that is not until they are paying the bills.  In a similar way that parents provide for their children, God provides for His.  He knows what we need … and knows that it is not good to live on Cocoa Puffs and Gummy Bears.  Even if we ask for them at every turn.  Micha 6:8 asks the question “What does the Lord require of you – oh man – but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  So let’s focus on walking humbly.  That means that I am aware of who God is and who I am ..  a sinner saved by grace .. I am not demanding of God … everything I have is a gift from Him … down to might next heartbeat and breath.  There was a man on the street corner that asked me for a dollar … I gave it to him, but will probably never see him again .. there is no relationship.  But we have been saved so that our relationship with God, the Father, could and would, by faith, be restored.  Since we were born again, we have been living in an eternal relationship with the Father.  Jesus asked (Matthew 7:9-11) “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”  God will give us what we need and what is best for us.  You can be certain of that.

"He knows your name.  He knows your every thought.  He sees each tear that falls and hears you when you call."

No comments: