Pursing God
Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart. Jeremiah 24:7
Men who achieve greatness in the kingdom of God have a heart to know God. While traveling on the road to Damascus, Saul, who became the apostle Paul, was smitten to the ground by the brightness of God’s presence and cried out, “Who are You, Lord?” (Acts 9:5). Saul needed to know Whom he was dealing with before he knew how to respond. All this while he had only known about God and His Word through the theological training under Gamaliel. Now he met the God of the Word. This experience totally revolutionized his life.
Paul’s faith was no longer founded upon a philosophy or tradition, but in the Person of the living God. He later wrote, “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Tim. 1:12). It is not enough to know God intellectually; we need to experience Him personally.
This experience will produce an unshakeable conviction in the reality of God. God does not want us to experience Him just once. He wants us to draw near to Him again and again. Moses was a man who wanted more of God. Moses had led the children of Israel out of Egypt intothe wilderness with mighty signs and wonders. But the people rebelled and turned against God to worship the golden calf. In His wrath, God judged the children of Israel (Ex. 32:35). Then Moses cried out to God, “Please, show me Your glory” (33:18). He felt that he had come to a place where he could no longer lead Israel until he knew God better. He was not satisfied at just having the burning bush encounter with God. Do you sometimes feel like Moses? Do you feel you have come to your wits’ end and you need a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit? Well, you can pray to God like Moses did. God instructed Moses to stand at the cleft of the rock and “the LORD passed before him” (34:6). Moses had a fresh revelation of God and that experience gave him the strength and courage to continue as the leader of Israel.
These two outstanding men of God—Moses, representing the Old Testament, and Paul, a key New Testament figure—understood that it is God’s will that we know Him. They recognized their need for an unfolding revelation of God and His need to give that selfrevelation. Over 76 times, the Old Testament says, “know that I am the LORD.” God has never issued a command without also providing the ability to fulfill that command. He will give us a heart to know Him (Jer. 24:7). Our responsibility is to draw near to Him with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Let us make a decision to pursue God every single day of our lives.
Thanks Pastor Kong,
the first thing we should do when I encounter difficulties is to ask god to show me more of His glory and will. I have been a Christian for five years, but I had never understood bible so well until I knew city harvest church one year ago, I used to ask church leaders or pastors for help, of course they could give me some encouragement and support, but I never encountered god personally, that’s why my life was always unstable, I cried and cried, pray for being god’s presence someday.Until recently, I started reading Pastor Kong’s Daily Devotion, chewing every word of them, swallow them and meditate all the bible verses every night, I see the importance of knowing god myself, rather than just reciting bible verse or being an theological believer. I know the importance of separating myself from the world and ’so-called’ friends circle. I am experiencing God now everyday, every moment, I am loved by Him. He’s always with me, and I can see the way he makes for me when there seems to be now way. Glory to the Lord, my God!
unfolding revelation? This got sound like dispensation theology lehhh? simi si “His need to give that selfrevelation”? Is an almighty, all-knowing God so God got needs mehhh?