Knowing God

People sit in our churches every week hearing messages about God, singing songs about or to God, and praying to God. But, how many of them really know God? I'm not talking about their salvation. I'm asking how many of them really know God. How many can describe the nature of God to another person? I'm afraid that number might be rather low.

A few weeks ago I began a focused study on the attributes of God. I already have pages of notes I've copied from various books and other resources. It has been a growing experience. The more I learn about God the more I realize there is so much more to learn. No one can ever explore the depths of God's nature, but it's important that we learn as much as we can as Christian people.

Many of the fears and doubts we have are the result of not knowing God as we should. I look back at my own life and some of the worries I've had during times when I've gone through the valleys of life, and I realize that my faith was weak because my knowledge of God wasn't what it should have been. That same lack of knowledge also results in many of us living far below what God wants for us. Jesus said that He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Many Christian people are not living an abundant life but are living lives of defeat and discouragement. Again, it comes from not knowing God as He truly is.

The lack of knowledge about God also impacts our witness to others. The apostle Paul prayed that the Christians in Rome would be filled with joy, peace and hope, and not only filled but filled to overflowing. I've often said that the reason we need to be overflowing with joy, peace and hope is so some of it can splash onto others who need that in their lives. A joyful Christian filled with peace and hope is going to be an effective witness to others who need to know Jesus Christ. Too many times my own life has not been filed with joy, peace and hope, and I believe the same could be said about many believers today.

We in ministry need to do a better job of teaching our congregations about the attributes and character of God. Too many sermons are filled with fluff meant to tickle the ears of our listeners. Many of the ones sitting in our pews need to be fed the meat of the Word. We need to help them grow deeper in their knowledge of God.

Every Christian also needs to take responsibility for their own growth in that area. I would encourage the reader to begin to do some serious study on the person and nature of God. As you learn more about Him you will find yourself growing closer to Him, and your faith will grow even more. 

Going Deeper With God

I recently heard a pastor admit to his congregation that one of his biggest regrets in ministry was that he had not gone deeper with God. This pastor is a very popular minister of a mega-church who appears on television daily. He has authored several best-selling books. Most of us in ministry would believe that he enjoys a great ministry that has been blessed by God. Yet, he admitted this major regret in his life.

His admission struck home with me because I have often felt the same. While not having enjoyed the ministry this brother has, my ministry has been blessed of God. For a country boy raised on dairy farms, I have enjoyed a ministry that I could never have imagined. Still, I often feel much regret that I have not gone deeper with God than I have. After 40+ years in ministry I feel I have merely scratched the surface in my knowledge of God and my walk with Him.

Recently, I have begun a study of the attributes of God as part of my devotional reading and study. Maybe one day I'll attempt to write a book on my learning, but whether I do or not, this study has reinforced my regret of not having gone deeper with God. So often, in my reading, I need to stop and worship as I see elements of God's attributes I never knew existed. I begin to reflect on how these attributes have impacted my relationship with Him even when I didn't realize it.

The book I am currently reading is Divine Attributes: Knowing the Covenantal God of Scripture by John C. Peckham. As I read what he writes about God's love I had to stop reading and begin to worship. Oh, the depth of His love for us! In the previous book I read, God the Father Almighty by Millard J. Erickson, he wrote how the omniscience of God influences His love for us. Erickson points out that even though God knows everything about us, He loves us unconditionally! Most of the love we receive from others is conditional. Perhaps they would not love us if they knew everything there was to know about us. But, God does know everything and loves us anyway! If that does not lead you to worship Him I don't know what would.

Not only do I regret not personally going deeper with God, I regret not leading the churches I've served in a study of God's attributes. While I have addressed some of them in messages occasionally, I wish I had led the congregation through an intentional study of His attributes. My belief is that many in our churches do not understand His attributes either and how those attributes can impact their lives. Just as reading about these attributes has led me to worship, I believe a study of these attributes would enhance our congregation's worship as well.

I can't undo the past, and I will have to live with the regrets I have, but I can do something about the future, and I am. I plan on spending at least the rest of this year studying the attributes of God in an effort to go deeper in my walk with Him. I want to know God better. I want to go deeper, and I pray you do as well.