Know God

Galatians 4:8-11 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God – or rather are known by God –  how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
 
PAUL’S “know” here means an in-depth knowledge of another person. When Paul wrote formerly you did not know God, he acknowledged the Galatians had no understanding of God. The Gentiles worshiped the Greek and Roman gods. The Jews did not know God, the Father, Son and Spirit. But through Paul’s teachings, they had come to know God as a personal Father, Savior, and Spirit. If asked, the Galatians, would know how to answer such questions as: “Who created the heavens and the earth?” “When did God promise to send a Savior to redeem our sins?” “Who is the Savior?” “How does he redeem our sins?” – and many more. Through the apostle’s and evangelists’ teachings, the Galatian church members would have come to know God on a very personal level.
    Paul said this was possible because they are known by God. In other words, God chose to reveal himself to these Galatians. It’s as if a person came to you and said, “I know you. I want you to know me.” Then he tells you about himself. You would come to know him because he first knew you and revealed himself to you. Knowing God begins with God knowing us.
    To know God also means we are actively engaged in a relationship with him. We do not stop at knowing God with an introduction and a few teachings. Knowing God in a true relationship requires we spend time with him. We learn how he responds in various circumstances. We understand in our hearts what he has done and what he will do. To know God in truth, we trust our lives are in his hand, saved by his grace for eternal life.
    Paul could not understand how the Galatians would know God and turn back to those weak and miserable principles that kept them in bondage to sin and the law. To know God and then reject our knowledge of him is a story as old as the Bible. It began with Adam and Eve rejecting their personal relationship with God. Israel did the same thing repeatedly. And the Christian church is just as guilty as illustrated here and throughout history.    
    You must be very careful to keep your knowledge of God above all other things you know. Know who God is. The Spirit has taught you. Remain faithful to him because he knew you first.
 
John 10:3The watchman opens the gate for the shepherd, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.