S43P5 – The God of understanding: desiring to be known

1 John 5:19-20

We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding and insight so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Her birthday was coming up, and she could not contain herself. They had been friends for a very long time. When she heard that her best friend had a surprise for her milestone 30th birthday, she spent weeks trying to figure out what it could be. If anyone knew her and could plan the perfect gift, it would have to be the closest friend she ever had. Eventually, the big day came. The friends met over lunch, and a box exchanged hands. When the birthday girl opened her gift, she was certainly amazed. It was something she never would have bought for herself, but that is because it was something she would now want. In fact, she was disappointed that her friend had missed the mark so badly. It was a case of someone knowing her for a very long time but perhaps not actually knowing her that well at all.

Relationships are complicated, and they usually have many layers to them. We have different words to describe how we are situated to others. Some are friends, and some are acquaintances. There are levels of closeness that we have with some people but will never reach with others. The point is that we can think that we know someone without actually truly understanding the person. One of the beautiful things about God is that He desires for us to truly know him. Today’s scripture tells us that the Son of God imparts to us his understanding so that we would be able to truly know the Father. We are not merely acquaintances who share a casual relationship with him. It is not like knowing someone in passing or simply knowing of him. We are friends, and we are family. His desire is that we know him as fully as we can.

There is a famous quote by one of our great historical thinkers that I used to have hanging in my college dorm room. It reads, “I want to know God’s thoughts; the rest are just details.” Back then, I had absolutely no relationship with God that anyone would be able to discern. However, there was something about that quotation that still rang true with me. It is an amazing thing that for those who desire to know the thoughts of God, He is open to revealing himself to us. And as we grow in our understanding of him, then we grow in our discernment as we can know the will of God by knowing who He is. Father, thank You that You not only make yourself available to us, but You desire that we come to know You fully.