We have many Christian cliches about knowing the things of God and understanding His Word.
I have taught my students for as far back as I can recall that there is a big difference between knowing about someone and knowing them well. I like to use examples like you probably know a lot of information about the President of your country. There is lots of information out about the person who holds this vital public office. All of that knowledge about them doesn’t mean that you really know them. If you really know someone you can call them on the phone (no caller id) start a conversation and they will instantly engage in conversation with you. There is no need to even identify yourself as you start the conversation if you have a close relationship, you know the sound of each other's voice.
This voice recognition knowledge is the kind of knowing that I want to talk about. When you know a person well they do not need to identify themselves they know your voice. My children do not say, “ Who are you?” when I call them; they may say, “Mom what's wrong today?”, because they know even the inflections of my voice. This is what Jesus tell us- we are sheep and we are to know Voice training his voice. John 10:3-5
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
This is the essential knowing of God that we need in our lives as Christians. It is not easy to cultivate a deeper relationship with God. It takes time and intentionality. The problem is that most of what I teach ,and is taught in Christian schools as well as literature is about it is not direct knowledge of God. I will give an example of my own teaching is about God and not direct knowledge of God. For years I would tell my students in the Philippines to read their Bible. This type of thing is scripted right into my teacher’s book. “Tell students to read their Bible.” We may even use the Bible to answer questions in a workbook at school or church. There is nothing wrong with this, but it is not enough to give us a relational knowledge of God.
Please understand that the kind of knowing that allows us to know the Fathers voice must begin with knowing Him by His Word. We need to be reading our Bibles daily so that we know His voice. God will not be able to direct me in my life personally if I do not know his voice by knowing His Word. God cannot speak anything that is in contradiction to His Word. Our training in the voice of God starts in his word and always returns to his word. This is our primary source.
If we want our children to really know God, we must start with His Word as our primary source. We read our Bibles so that our lives will be ordered in good relationship to God. We must restore a firsthand knowledge of God rather than just knowledge about God that leaves us unable to navigate life well.
May the Love of Jesus capture your heart. He loves you more than you can fathom.
Grace
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