But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. 1 Corinthians 8:3
It is not enough to know of God, we are compelled to both know Him and be known of Him. Galatians 4:9 teaches — But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage. So then, to know God is to also be known by God.
In this age of Information in which we live, it is easy for us to know a lot about a given individual without really knowing them. We can google individuals who we have never met, and learn of them without ever having a relationship with them. Never being in the same place or space, yet sharing common knowledge about a celebrity or popular personality. In fact, you may know more and have more current information about the person than I do, and yet neither of us, really know the person. So it is with God and many who know about Him, but never really get to know Him and be Known by Him.
Anyone who loves God is known by God according to the scripture. Yet through ignorance and disobedience, we can find ourselves In bondage knowing God and being known by God according to Galatians 4:9. How does this happen? It happens when we focus on the weak and beggarly elements of religion. Observance of days and sacraments which can neither save us or make us holy, in and of themselves. What can wash away our sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Therefore, we must lean on the Spirit of God to help us, and not trust in ourselves or works of righteousness.
Loving God fosters obedience. Jesus said in John 14:15-18; If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. We learn in this text that obedience begets help from the Spirit of truth. Which means, we will not be deceived into believing a lie, or behaving in ways that draw us from God and into bondage. This positive chain reaction begins with loving God, which makes us known by God, and is evident by our obedience to the word of God. We know something and someone that the world cannot know, because they cannot see nor receive the Spirit that dwells in us according to the scripture.
If you love God, then you are known by God. What then is the evidence of your love for God? There are plenty of people who confess love for God, and yet they do their own thing. This is not the love that Jesus describes in John 14:15 — “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” You have undoubtedly heard the expression, love is what it does. While we as humans look on the outside, God looks at the heart. So things that appear one way outwardly, can take on a whole different appearance inwardly. This is why Jesus places emphasis on the in dwelling of the Spirit which the world cannot see. Yet it leads and guides believers into all truth. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. John 16:13
Let us love God today and be known by God, as we keep His word. If you love Him, keep His commandments today — not because it is the law, but willingly submit yourself out of love. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
May we be compelled to love God in such a way today, that gives assurance to you and me, that we are known by God.
Maranatha
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