Faith Insight 4: Knowing God Is Relational

FAITH THAT LIVES — WEEKLY INSIGHT

Faith Insight 4: Knowing God Is Relational

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me.’”— Jeremiah 9:23–24 (ESV)

This is the fourth teaching in our Faith That Lives series, as we continue exploring what it means not merely to believe things about God, but to know, trust, follow, and walk with Him.

In our last teaching, we considered Paul's words:

“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

God has made Himself known, and through His Word He continues to address us. But what is the purpose of hearing? Is it simply to accumulate greater knowledge about God?

Scripture points us toward something deeper: “God wants us to know Him.”

There is an important difference between knowing about someone and knowing someone personally. We can know many facts about a historical figure whom we have never met. We may know when that person lived, what he accomplished, what he said, and what others said about him. But knowing facts about a person is not the same as having a relationship with that person.

Something similar can happen in our spiritual lives.

We can know Bible stories.

We can know Christian doctrine.

We can know the Ten Commandments, the names of the apostles, and the sequence of biblical events.

All of that knowledge can be valuable.

But it is possible to know many things about God without deeply knowing God.

Through Jeremiah, God tells His people that wisdom, strength, and riches are not life's greatest treasures. There is something far greater: “that he understands and knows me.”

Jesus uses an especially beautiful picture to describe this kind of relationship.

He says: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.”— John 10:14 (ESV)

Think about that statement.

Jesus does not describe His followers merely as people who know His teachings. He describes a Shepherd who “knows His sheep”, and sheep who “know their Shepherd.”

A few verses later Jesus says:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”— John 10:27 (ESV)

Notice the relationship:

They hear His voice.

He knows them.

They follow Him.

That is much closer to the biblical picture of living faith. Knowing God does not mean that we understand everything about Him. God remains infinitely greater than our ability to comprehend Him. Nor does relationship with God make biblical truth less important. Quite the opposite. Scripture is essential because through it God reveals the truth about who He is.

But biblical knowledge reaches its intended purpose when truth leads us into deeper trust, worship, obedience, love, and fellowship with the God whom Scripture reveals.

The apostle Paul expressed this longing even after years of following Christ:

“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”— Philippians 3:10 (ESV)

Paul already knew a tremendous amount “about” Christ.

Yet his desire remained: “That I may know him.”

That is the heart of living faith.

We study Scripture because we want to know the God who speaks through it.

We pray because we depend upon Him.

We obey because we trust the One who leads us.

We worship because we have come to recognize His goodness and glory.

And we continue walking because Christianity is not merely adherence to a set of beliefs. It is life with God.

FOR REFLECTION

If someone examined my spiritual life, would that person primarily see that I know a great deal about God—or that I am learning to know, trust, and walk with God Himself?

A PRACTICAL RESPONSE

Set aside a few quiet minutes this week and read John 10:1–18.

Pay particular attention to the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep.

Then ask yourself: “What does Jesus reveal about Himself as my Shepherd?

What would it mean for me to hear His voice and follow Him more faithfully in my ordinary life?”Choose one specific area in which you know what Christ has taught and consciously entrust that area to Him.

A SIMPLE PRAYER

Father, I am grateful for everything You have revealed about Yourself in Scripture. But do not let my knowledge remain merely information. Draw me into deeper fellowship with You. Teach me to recognize the voice of Christ, trust Him as my Shepherd, and follow wherever He leads. May I not merely know about You, but increasingly know You and walk with You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Next Teaching Insight: Faith Must Become a Way of Life

Adapted from themes explored in Faith That Lives by Dr. James D. Zuber.