God Knows Me

In Psalm 1 it says that the wicked and the sinner will not be able to stand on the day of judgement, but the righteous will. The question is why? and it is answered in v.6. "For" or because "the Lord knows the way of the righteous,"

Now in what sense does God know the way of the righteous, and in contrast not know the way of the wicked? Surely this is not a text that is trying to teach that God has limited knowledge (1 John 3:20). The knowing is a knowledge of a person not facts. God is unlimited is His knowledge of facts, but only a few (all believers) are known by Him.

Galatians 4:9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

Matt 7:23 gives us another glimpse at God's knowing.
"And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' "

God does not "know" the unrighteous in the sense that the unrighteous are not united to God in a personal loving relationship.

Therefore, the reason that the righteous will stand in the day of judgement and the unrighteous will not is the righteous are known by God because they have been connected to Him in a loving relationship, because of faith in the work of Christ on the cross.

God knows me!!! To God be the glory FOREVER!

Collision

Can't wait to see this movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_l32YIVsnk

The appeal of evil

We all have seasons where we don't feel useful for God's Kingdom, but do not be deceived by the counsel of the wicked, the way of the sinner, or the seat of the scoffer. Find your delight on the meditation of the Word, and everything you do will prosper. Psalm 1

If it weren't for His kingdom, the counsel of the wicked, the way of the sinner, and the seat of the scoffer would be a good place to be.

The counsel of the wicked is really appealing. It draws us from a human perspective to see things only in regards to this world, and would probably be good advice if it weren't for the Kingdom of God. The way of the sinner would be the better way IF our hope was in this life only (1 cor 15:12-20). The seat of the scoffer would be a good seat to be in because they way Christians should be acting is ludicrous if there is no Heaven.

The antidote to succumbing to the counsel, way, and seat of the wicked is meditation on the Word of God and believing His promise that "in all that he does he prospers. The wicked are not so..."

Psalm 1

Psalm 1 says (paraphrased) Blessed is the man who delights in the Law of the Lord, and meditates on it day and night. "He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season (emphasis mine).

In serving the local church I find myself wanting to yield all fruit in all seasons. With hundreds of "famous" pastors I find my self striving for ministries like theirs. One big problem... I'm not them and this is not the same church as theirs!

I am who God made me to be. I have a unique fruit. God didn't design me to produce "their" fruit He designed me to be me for a reason.

Not only do I have a unique fruit, but I have a fruit bearing season. The problem is my self-centered desire is to bear that fruit all the time. However, no fruit tree (at least that I know of) bears fruit year round. Most of the year it does not bear any fruit at all. It just sits there looking dead or at least fruitless. But no one cuts down a good fruit bearing tree just because it is not in season. The off season is good for the tree to be nourished so that at the prime time to produce fruit it has all the nourishment it needs to bear good, tasty, satisfying, filling, enjoyable fruit.

So it is with me. God has not designed me to bear all kinds of fruit, just one, a unique one. And that fruit won't be flourishing all year long. There will be a season where God will cause the fruit to flourish, but that can only happen if there is a good "off season" where I am finding my delight in the Law of the Lord, and on His Word meditating day and night. If there is no spiritual nutrition then there won't be good fruit to bear in season.