FRIENDS VERSUS SERVANTS

"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you" (John 15:14-15).

Devotion 7 of 13

KNOWING THE LORD AND KNOWN BY GOD

There is much talk these days about "knowing the Lord," and so there should be! Without this knowledge, there is no deliverance, no life, and no blessing. Through the knowledge of God we escape the pollution of the world (2 Pet 2:20). Grace and peace are multiplied to us through this means (2 Pet 1:2). The provision of everything "pertaining to life and godliness" also comes through "the knowledge of Him" (2 Pet 1:3). The knowledge of God is indispensable to salvation! In fact, it IS salvation (John 17:3).

The expression to "know God" is one of profound pregnancy. It carries the idea of a divinely imparted intuition of God; a lively consciousness of His very Being. That consciousness is viewed in relation to ourselves; i.e., we are able to identify God with daily life. All of this proceeds from believing in Him, as a result of hearing the Gospel of Christ. It brings meaning to life.

This perspective, however, is properly held within a greater context; GOD KNOWS US! Because our sins are remitted, He knows us intimately. "But now after you have known God, OR RATHER ARE KNOWN BY GOD" (Gal 4:9). Notice the glad sound; "or rather, are known by God!" This is the opposite of the condition of the condemned, to be revealed in Christ's lamentable words, "Depart from me, I NEVER KNEW YOU" (Matt 7:23).

To be known by God involves this truth: We love Him "BECAUSE He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). It means we sought Him because He first sought us (Luke 19:10)! Our faith is in response to His Gospel. The initiative was His, the response was ours. Even then, we "believed through grace" (Acts 18:27). We confess that it was "given to us to believe" (Phil 1:29). Rather, we have been known by God.

Praise His name! We must never forget that God Himself has "begotten us again unto a living hope" (1 Pet 1:3). James states the truth succinctly; "Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures (creation)" (James 1:18). Rather, we are known by God!

A daring distinction

There are not many who would dare to make a distinction between us knowing God, and God knowing us. But the Holy Spirit does so--and that, because it is the truth. God knowing us is what constitutes us "sons." A servant is not begotten of his master! Servants are not heirs of the Master's goods; sons are! Not only, therefore, has the Lord Jesus shared with His people the Divine agenda, He has made them heirs together with Him. We are properly called "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ" (Rom 8:17). You must NOT allow the magnitude of that blessing to pass you by!

PRAYER POINT: Father, I realize my knowledge of You springs from You knowing me. Through Jesus I acknowledge I know and love You because You know me and loved me.

-- Tomorrow: THE ROLE OF OBEDIENCE --