To Know: be aware through inquiry, observation or information and experience
Be Known: develop a relationship with through meeting and spending time with others
We spend our lives learning to know....about the world, animals, tie a shoe, cures for diseases, to make a profit, read and write through memorizing alphabet and numbers, drive a car, how to get along with others....even when we don't realize it, we are LEARNING. Some of it is on purpose in a field of study or to become proficient at a particular sport or craft. Much of our to know is a part of life and the natural process of growing up. Curiosity is a really good one and sparks the learning. And we have all said this, "I will NEVER do that again!" Often that relates to an experience we do not wish to repeat but more often than not we do it again. The knowing didn't necessarily change the behavior.
Ever said I know, I just know, I KNOW! I knew it! That part of us is called instinct.
When we know, or are in the know, there is a confidence. When you KNOW, you can bank on it, there's no convincing necessary. It's foundational.
Then of course we have all been (and if you haven't experienced this either you aren't old enough, or you're lying) in a situation where two people both KNOW and are convinced of absolutely, positively, what they are thinking or seeing or saying or doing or know is correct. Bazinga! One of you gets a wake up call. When that happens it's a shocker. I've been notorious over the years for insisting on the way to somewhere, we went a certain direction or made specific turns left or right. Then upon leaving, you do those directions in reverse to get home. Easy. Not if you're me. I could have sworn we turned right at this corner.....but alas we did not. In my mind, I am convinced and actually sure we turned a particular direction. Then, wait, what???? Perhaps, I am directionally dyslexic!
Want a truly amazing study of knowledge and what it means to learn about and know God?
Start with Proverbs:
Proverbs 1:2 Within these sayings will be found the revelation of wisdom and the impartation of spiritual understanding. Use them as keys to unlock the treasures of true knowledge.
Proverbs 1:7 How then does a man gain the essence of wisdom? We cross the threshold of true knowledge when we live in obedient devotion to God. Stubborn know-it-alls will never stop to do this, for they scorn true wisdom and knowledge.
Well I don't want to be a stubborn know it all and I surely want true wisdom. Obedient devotion to God???? What does that really mean?
Obedient devotion: Remember new love....I'll do anything for you. You can't eat, you can't sleep, you can't study. I mean seriously the heart and brain connect and there is one track in your head and it's on a constant loop. Think like that! When was the last time you had devotion and God was your first thought above everything else? And I mean all day long, all night long, all week long....all year long?! And then that little, I know that I know, gut instinct kicks in....do you ignore it or do you know it's God talking to you? Do you surrender and comply? I mean it's easy when love is new.....even with Jesus. Honeymoon phase. And yes it even ends with God. We don't like something he didn't do for us when we thought he should. Or didn't take us out of a situation in a timely manner. There are plenty of why's..... or why not's. On and on and on. There are disappointments. Misunderstanding. Even, not fair!
What we've delved into, when knowledge has meaning, is TO BE KNOWN.
That's what we each want....for him to KNOW US. He does. He says he does.
Psalm 139: 1-18
Lord, you know everything there is to know about me.
You perceive every movement of my heart and soul,
and you understand my every thought before it even enters my mind.
You are so intimately aware of me, Lord.
You read my heart like an open book
and you know all the words I’m about to speak
before I even start a sentence!
You know every step I will take before my journey even begins.
You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way,
and in kindness you follow behind me
to spare me from the harm of my past.
With your hand of love upon my life,
you impart a blessing to me.
This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible!
Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength.
Where could I go from your Spirit?
Where could I run and hide from your face?
If I go up to heaven, you’re there!
If I go down to the realm of the dead, you’re there too!
If I fly with wings into the shining dawn, you’re there!
If I fly into the radiant sunset, you’re there waiting!
Wherever I go, your hand will guide me;
your strength will empower me.
It’s impossible to disappear from you
or to ask the darkness to hide me,
for your presence is everywhere, bringing light into my night.
There is no such thing as darkness with you.
The night, to you, is as bright as the day;
there’s no difference between the two.
You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside
and my intricate outside,
and wove them all together in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex!
Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking.
It simply amazes me to think about it!
How thoroughly you know me, Lord!
You even formed every bone in my body
when you created me in the secret place,
carefully, skillfully shaping me from nothing to something.
You saw who you created me to be before I became me!
Before I’d ever seen the light of day,
the number of days you planned for me
were already recorded in your book.
Every single moment you are thinking of me!
How precious and wonderful to consider
that you cherish me constantly in your every thought!
O God, your desires toward me are more
than the grains of sand on every shore!
When I awake each morning, you’re still with me.
You are known by him (whether you believe it or not). In order to know that you have to have trust and in order to trust you have to know him and have relationship.
We want to be known and so does God. He wants us to have TRUTH. He wants us to know what He is really like, not just what you are told by others. God is love. It's personal. His Word is the daily nourishment to find out. His Holy Spirit, as a Christian, leads and guides you each step. Did you know Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede for you to God? They love completely and unconditionally.
To be known you have to know yourself. To be known you have to reveal yourself to others. When you tell God, even though He knows all about you, He loves for you to share about you. That's the personal side. He wants to share Himself as well with you. It's not one sided.
Think of the 5 love languages:
God would like to give you words of appreciation, and receive them.
God would like to give you gifts and you are the gift to Him.
God would like to touch you daily and would like the same.
God would like to give you quality time to share, and enjoys it from you.
God would like to give you acts of service (yes sometimes it's through another willing soul) and have you be those hands and feet to Him.
Let him share with you who you are and what He sees. Let him share with you who He is. And yes go ahead, open the door, let Him in, tell him who you are and tell Him what you see in Him.
Get to Knowing and Be Known
KTWL