Many American Christians have established the habit of attending church each Sunday. Some of these not only attend church but also read their bible. Still others don’t attend church but have a private relationship with Him. I’ve read descriptions of these who claim a belief that formal church isn’t for them, or isn’t necessary or good thing, and that they have a personal relationship with God. I could go on and on, but the point is that any of these people may think that reading the bible, attending church, or having nothing but a personal relationship with God as they define it may be the beginning and end of that “relationship,” and in truth they haven’t begun to get to know Him. These are just examples, I’m not trying to pick anyone out, it’s a question for self-reflection – do you really know God?
MY EXPERIENCE & HOW I ONLY GREW WHEN IT HURT
Now, why would I choose that statement, “I only grew when it hurt?” About 20 years ago I was involved in a home church, and our core values and mission revolved around the written word of our Lord. I read my bible, lead some discussions, prayed daily, encouraged others as I could at that time when I was a new believer, and I really felt I had a relationship with the Lord. I felt that all of those things I listed, and some others were my relationship with Jesus. Little did I realize that I was missing out on a real relationship and that Jesus wanted to spend time with His children, with me. Dedicated time, one-on-one, just as if I were visiting anyone else – in person. Not by reading a book about them. Not by making a phone call now and then. Not by having my opinion of who they were from hearing what other people told me about Him or seeing them in some public place where we sat down in a crowd and chatted. God is relational. People Are relational, too. When you are getting to know a new friend, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, or neighbor if you only do these surface things you may think you know them, you may know facts about them, but do you know what is important to them? Do you know what they like to do? Do you really know them. From this description, no, you don’t, but you’ve collected facts about them.
Starting to dig deeper is where it begins. There are probably several ways, but as an example do you spend devoted alone time with Him in private (Matthew 6:6 ESV)? Do you try and get to know Him as you would an important person in your life (James 4:8 ESV)? For me, getting to know they Lord in a personal way, in the way He desires us to know Him began in a very painful trial in my life. That trial, for me, was the door through which I entered to begin and get to really know Him. Not just facts about Him, not just being thankful for my salvation, not just attending church. This trial drew me to Him because He was the only one who could help me through my situation. And I had asked Him for that trial because the important things in my life were falling apart. Brothers, sisters, don’t wait until your life is falling apart to go to Him and start a real relationship with Him. You visit your family, friends, loved ones, and so much more you should visit Him and spend time with Him. And there are many ways and opportunities.
So far, I’ve been pretty non-descriptive, but the idea isn’t to lay out the 5 Steps to Know God, but to awaken you to the fact that you may not have a relationship. Don’t settle for just being to able to name His attributes, describe how He went to the cross for us, and other facts. Go visit Him. Get to know Him.
If you have any feedback, feel free to leave a comment. This article is meant to be a springboard, and while it might not be a guide for how to have that relationship, hopefully it can inspire you to look deeply to see if you have that it or not.
God Bless you, and may you get to know the endless riches of a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jeremiah 9:23–24, Jeremiah 29:13, Hebrews 12:8, James 4:8