To Know Him

To know and be known is one of the strongest of drives in the heart of a man or woman.
We sing a very lovely song with these words:  ‘To Know Him, to know Him, is the cry of our heart’.  It really is a passionate cry of our hearts.  How do we get ‘up close and personal’ to God apart from our study of the word, prayer and fellowship?  Sometimes even this diligence can leave us feeling a little remote from Him.

‘Draw close to God and He will draw close to you’ – that is His promise.  There is an extreme attractiveness about Him as we draw close to Him.  The disciples saw this in Him – they described Him as being ‘full of grace and truth.’  This set Him apart from all men.  This is the thing we search for, and it is our quest.

When we look at Jesus and study Him closely we see the many personal encounters, and ‘face-to-face’ meetings, He had with people in their need and distress.  We see a superb graciousness of spirit transforming them. 

Think of the forgiveness toward the woman caught in adultery.  He did not stone her to death; instead she was brought to life by His heart’s attitude. 

Think of the Samaritan woman.  Jesus spoke bluntly to her on her marriage ventures.  He spoke the truth to her, yet instead of her feeling humiliated and condemned, she was energised into a joyous discovery of life. 

Recall Peter’s denial and cowardice in the face of Jesus’ going to the cross.  Did Jesus give him a tongue lashing when they met again?  No!  It was the gracious forgiveness that broke his heart to an earnest following of Him.  It was the sheer goodness and grace towards each of these ones that brought about change in them. 

May that incorruptible seed of His life produce in us that same graciousness of spirit, welling up within us constantly as we proceed on our walk following Him.