The Quest . . .
Born again into . . .
Discovering the ultimate
relationship of mystery
and wonder.
To KNOW You, as we dance
with the music and rhythm
of life.
Your intricate nuances
we experience as
You reveal Yourselves.
Three parts of ONE,
each unique and complimentary.
You hold us to your heart,
and we discover
the Oneness You desire
as we . . .
Hide Ourselves In You!
Reflection
Welcome to the new year of 2022. It's a new year in the journey of eternity and also a new challenge to explore and experience deeper levels of relationship with God.
Have you ever really identified what you were Born Again into? Was it to a new belief systemically broken up into different theologies or doctrinal flavors, or did you meet the person of God? Here's the thing, most of us meet the person of God and then learn how to walk with a system or a doctrinal vision.
I remember when I was first Born Again and one morning as I walked across the paddock to bring the cows in for milking, God spoke to me. He made this statement, "Now you have the choice to either walk with Me or walk with the church". I was only about 4 weeks old in my faith and had no idea what He meant. As an exuberant young believer I responded with a question, "What does THAT MEAN", because I had not been introduced to all the hoops I had to jump through.
God then said something I have never forgotten. "If you walk with Me you will have trouble with the church and if you walk with the church you will have trouble with Me!" Unfortunately, because of my personal insecurities of needing to be accepted, I learned how to do both.
The more we discover God and His many nuances, the fire inside of us is ignited to know Him more. The relationship we personally have with Him is enhanced by His word and our experience of Him grows.
Have you ever immersed yourself in the scriptures and really asked God to make them a reality to you? Have you experienced verses like Eph 3:20 as is written in the amplified version?
Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,
Ephesians 3:20 AMP
I love the words "dare ask or think" because it's almost like we are too timid to ask and prove God at His word.
Ultimately, as believers, we grow to a place where we desire more and more of Him. The experience of knowing Him becomes deeper and we become dissatisfied and empty, engaging in religious activities that have proven to be shallow.
When Paul was writing to the Philippian church, in verse 9+10 he writes
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
Philippians 3:9-10 NKJV
A word study of the word to Know, is the Greek word Ginosko which means having a personal experience, i.e., to personally, intimately, and experientially know something. We aren’t called to understand God, and if you try to understand God you will go mad. Instead, we are called to Ginosko Him (to experience Him in a personal and intimate way).
When reading through the above 2 verses, Paul is being transparent with them and explaining the deeper relationship he personally is longing for and encourages us to do the same. This letter to the Philippian church is one of encouragement to experience God one on one.
There are some challenging words in verse 10, I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings. These words, the fellowship of His sufferings, are the poignant reminder of the feelings of God. Have you ever considered God's feelings?
We receive brief