Yesterday the sermon in church was on knowing God, the foundation of the Christian life.
I heard a couple of comments that the content of the sermon didn’t fit the title. They were expecting a different type of sermon about knowing God.
In the sermon, our pastor talked about knowing God as holy, a prominent trait that defines what God is like. When we truly know God’s holiness, we will see ourselves as we really are, our own lack of holiness. The shame at our own shortcomings will prompt us to receiving Jesus as our Savior so that we can be forgiven and be given a new life. Then in response in thanksgiving, we would want to serve Him. He doesn’t force us to serve Him, but knowing his love and mercy would motivate us to serve Him voluntarily.
Isn’t this what knowing God is all about? I think our view of knowing God has been “westernized”. We want sort of an experience of knowing God, a passion, or a feeling. We think it’s about me and what I get out of it a relationship with God.
But knowing God starts with God. Look at Him – He is holy, compassionate, abounding in love. When we see Him for who he is, that’s what knowing God is about. Our response to that is one of submission and commitment.
People think that it is a bad thing to surrender to God. The paradox of the Christian life is that by surrendering our lives to Him, we find the fulfillment that is greater than what we can find living life our own way. If you try to save your life, you will lose it. If you give it up, you will find it.