Galatians 4:8-11 - the message "Earlier, before you knew God personally, you were enslaved to so-called gods that had nothing of the divine about them. But now that you know the real God—or rather since God knows you—how can you possibly subject yourselves again to those paper tigers? For that is exactly what you do when you are intimidated into scrupulously observing all the traditions, taboos, and superstitions associated with special days and seasons and years. I am afraid that all my hard work among you has gone up in a puff of smoke!"
I sat with loved ones last night being explored and loved (even though in my head I couldn't see it as that) regarding my inability to see myself as loved by Him. Or maybe it's my own view of myself and my pride saying that I'm good enough to not need His love, but oh, how I want it. I long to feel the freedom of that. And I think I have, for brief moments - I've been on the edge of diving in head first. And yet, i think that no matter what, I will always find times like this where I creep back to this spot where I am.
And so this verse found me at naptime today. Found me in a slump on my chair. And I am struck by the "weak and miserable principles" I followed before I knew Him - or was known by Him. That's exactly what they were - weak because they do not have the power to overcome the guilt and power of sin, miserable because they cannot impart new life. (http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/index.php?action=getCommentaryText&cid=7&source=1&seq=i.55.4.2)
But I have known a different way - a way of freedom and power, nothing about Him is weak and miserable. And yet, somehow I am drawn back to those ways and the twisting pains they take my heart and soul through. Why? When there is a far better way? I fear I may not know this side of Heaven.
And so, as I read on further - I will try to rest in this:
Throughout the Bible, the joy of God's people is that God knows them. "O LORD, you have searched me and you know me," the psalmist sings (Ps 139:1). Jeremiah begins his prophecy with the certain knowledge that God knows him: "The word of the LORD came to me, saying, `Before I formed you in the womb I knew you' " (Jer 1:4-5). By contrast, the worst fate of all is to be unknown by the Lord. There are no more terrible words than the words "I never knew you. Away from me!" (Mt 7:23). To be known by God is to be chosen and loved by him. Because he chose to know us as his own people, we know him as our God. This is the knowledge of personal relationship, a relationship initiated and sustained by God's grace.
To be known by God is to be chosen and loved by him. I only know Him because He chose to know me and to know me means He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
My personal relationship with Him is one that is initiated and sustained by God's grace.
No one else has done or will do what He has done for me. I'm going to stop inching away from the edge and attempt to not turn back to the weak and miserable ways I know all too well.
