MAN MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD Devotion #16 of 17

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle , and over all the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them"

(Genesis 1:26-27)

THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

The knowledge of God is the hallmark of the new covenant. This is the reason for the remission of our sins. "And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for [they shall all know me], from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more" (Jer. 31:34). "And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more" (Heb 8:11-12).

Involvement With God

To know God is to be involved with Him. This is being "one spirit" with the Lord, the closest of all unions (1 Cor. 6:17). It is having "the mind of Christ," perceiving things as He does (1 Cor. 2:16). It also involves laboring "together with God" (1 Cor. 3:9). All of this presumes likeness between the Lord and His people.

God Desires To Be Known

God has always desired to be known, preferring this above "burnt offerings." "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6). Above all religious activity, He wants to be known by His offspring; to have spiritual intimacy with them.

Something That Is Shameful

The lack of acquaintance with God is shameful, particularly when it exists in the professed church. The Spirit's word to the Corinthians is certainly in order for this day and time. "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame" (1 Cor. 15:34).

Related to the Warfare

We are engaged in fierce spiritual warfare, and therefore have been provided with weaponry appropriate for the conflict. One aspect of the warfare involves exposing and dethroning erroneous thoughts that suppress knowing God. "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5).

Increasing in the Knowledge

Acquaintance with God is something that must grow. We cannot content ourselves to remain in the vestibule of fellowship when we have been invited into the living quarters themselves. "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10). Your understanding of and fellowship with God is the means through which grace and peace are ministered to you. If you have little acquaintance with God, you will receive little grace and peace. "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord" (2 Pet. 1:2). Intimacy with God liberates men from the tyranny of sin. You cannot know God and remain defiled by sin! "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning" (2 Pet. 2:20). Our knowledge and understanding of God is not academic: it does not come by developing life- disciplines. If God does not give this to us, we will not possess it! For this reason, the Apostle prayed that believers would be so blessed. "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him" (Eph. 1:17). How many "things" do you require to safely negotiate through this present evil world to glory? God has given us everything we need. We are deficient in no required area. "All things: necessary for "life and godliness" come to us through our knowledge of God. "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (2 Pet. 1:3).

-- TOMORROW: A KEY TO SPIRITUAL CONFIDENCE --