Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today – how do you know the ways of God? Study the word or sit at his feet. The first must lead to the second, for all real knowing comes from intimate engagement.
John 7:16-17 TPT
[16] So Jesus responded, “I don’t teach my own ideas, but the truth revealed to me by the One who sent me. [17] If you want to test my teachings and discover where I received them, first be passionate to do God’s will, and then you will be able to discern if my teachings are from the heart of God or from my own opinions.
Observation
Study of scripture will not lead you to understanding. Understanding flows from the intimacy of being with God, understanding flows from my passion to meet with God. You need to know God’s heart from the intimacy of personal encounter if you are able to discern what God is saying. We are so use to studying documents to gain knowledge and understanding that we miss the way scriptural, or knowledge of God, is obtained, its intimacy not study. Now it’s not that study does not have a place, but its place is to lead to intimacy for understanding. Lovers don’t point you away from themselves in order to know them, they invite you into their intimate presence, for here is the only place where real knowing, knowing at a deeper level than intellectual consciousness takes place.
Many say they believe in Jesus, but I want to live as if Jesus is real. So often belief does not translate into action. I believe that I need to watch what goes into my mouth if I am to have a healthy body, but you only need to look at me to know that I don’t live like that is real. Intellectual consciousness does not lead to changed behaviour, where an encounter of a personal nature has the power of a deeper level of consciousness that transforms my living. When I meet with the living God then I live like he is real. If you want to test the teachings of Jesus passionately meet with God and then you will know and live his ways from the intimacy of his personal teaching.
I teach every time I have a microphone that God loves us without condition or cause, but so many who hear walk away asking the question does God love me? The intellect cannot receive the truth when lies sown in trauma and experience reign in my thinking. It requires the personal intimate interaction of the living God to go deeper than our intellect, into our hearts our spirits, to rewrite the truth stored in broken memories. This is personal and intimate healing, not read and obey. Jesus says “if you want to test my teachings,” then passionately meet with God.
Application
I will study for intimacy. I will never settle for intellectual pursuit, but allow my intellectual findings to lead me into his presence that I might receive understanding from intimacy.
Response
Thank you that you love me too much to give me a book and send me to the isolation of my room to study and know. Thank you that you invite me to walk with you intimately that my knowing flows from presence not study. I love being in your presence, your love teaches and shapes me more than any learning. Thank you that your presence is always open to me, may I be present to your presence more often.
Meditation
Meditate – knowing flows from intimacy.
Consider:
Do I allow study to lead to intimate discussion?
Do I live like Jesus is real, or do I believe in Jesus?
JOURNEY DEEPER
