KNOWING GOD/EXPERIENCING GOD
It is almost 1 am but I have been to bed and can't sleep because of this nasty cold.
So as I lay awake I was thinking, "we can get to know God by experiencing Him and we can experience Him by getting to know Him. Stay with me now....I will explain.
So often people that get to KNOW God do so through Bible study and reading His word. They have a head knowledge and really know why they believe what they believe. They can quote scripture with references on any topic that comes up. Many times people like this have limited experiences with the Lord.
On the other hand, many times people who EXPERIENCE God do so though prayer, soaking, listening to His voice, etc. They are happy, love God, understand His heart, and follow His lead. Many times these people don't know scripture and cannot defend what they believe.
So why choose. We need to study, study, study. Experience, Experience, Experience. A head knowledge of the Lord won't give us the relationship with the Him we so badly need, but experience alone will not help us stay strong when our beliefs are tested.
So, lets be balanced people. "Study to show thyself approved, a workman that needs not be ashamed" and "Hide His Word in your heart so that you will not sin against Him". Also be in his presence " In your presence is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore" and "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere."
We can know Him by experiencing Him....we can experience Him through getting to know Him though His word.
WE DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE ONE OR THE OTHER.
These are my 1:00 am random thoughts. What do you think of them?
3 comments:
I agree. I think I've spent most of my life on the experience side and I've been realizing lately how little of the Bible I really know. Thank goodness for Christian school where I did memorize alot of Scriptures! I think the church today needs to find that balance as well. We are being tested, and it's only going to increase!
Well said Deanna. This very topic has been in my thots and many conversations for the past month or so. Seems most places have one or the other, not too many have a good balance of both. It got lost somewhere along the way. I find myself chasing neither of them out of fear of being too one sided... and end up on the curb without either. Guess I'll play on the yellow line for a bit and see if I can't find both again along the way.
i know you posted this a while ago. but God has really been speaking this on my heart. i totally agree. that is amazing. you put that so well. we cant have one without the other because they go hand and hand! we need both. i love this. i love you. i wish i knew you better.
Post a Comment