Day 14

I have a book on my shelf that bears the same name as a course I took in college: “The Harmony of the Gospels.” I often consider at least the title when I see scripture reinforcing itself where the truths of God’s word unfold over centuries of time. Not so many centuries in the case of the Gospels, but definitely so when I find clear themes spanning the gap of the Old to the New Testament. In Romans 6:4-14 we encounter a concept of becoming so fully immersed in Christ (Baptism) that we are no longer even “alive” to sin – in fact, we are “dead’ to sin. Just as Christ died, we die with Him in taking His sacrifice as our salvation. Our lives become one with Him, and we grow in knowledge of Christ as we continually submit to His will. This theme of knowing God is not new. Moses was unwilling to move forward with God’s plan without knowing God was with Him, and that was a direct consequence of knowing, and having been known of God:
“Moses said to the LORD, “Look, You have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’ Now if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways, and I will know You and find favor in Your sight. Now consider that this nation is Your people.” (Ex.33:12-13)
Moses came boldly before the Lord because he knew God; he fellowshipped with God; and he met regularly with God. So, he was not willing to let God proceed with His promises, unless he were able to continue with God. The LORD threatened His absence, yet He was still willing to draw closer. Jacob had made a similarly bold declaration to the LORD:
“Then He said to Jacob, “Let Me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me.” (Genesis 32:26)
The concept of so desperately needing to know God is of such surpassing value, that Paul characterized it like this:
“More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)
The core truth: that God knows His people and wants them to know Him. God knows me – and wants me to know Him!
“This is what the LORD says: “The wise man must not boast in his wisdom; the strong man must not boast in his strength; the wealthy man must not boast in his wealth. But the one who boasts should boast in this, that he understands and knows Me— that I am Yahweh, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things. This is the LORD’s declaration.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)