Posted on

I know that I know nothing…

I worry that I don’t really ‘know’ anything. There are so many people out there who are experts at stuff. Some people can cut open a human body and mend it, speak 2, 3 or 4 languages – (French, Spanish, Japanese and Elvish), play the piano, understand how aeroplanes fly and TV works. I don’t.
Well – I know I’m alive; ‘I think therefore I am’ (Descartes said that… or so we’re told. But did he really say it first? Maybe his mum said it at breakfast and he just wrote it down. We’ll never really know for sure will we!)
I know a lot of really bad jokes that I laugh at myself. (Well it saves there being an awkward silence after I’ve spoken).
I know I love my children.
I know I have a lot of cats, but even that is relative – I know people with more!

I also know I don’t need to worry about my limited knowledge.

God knows; he knows everything.

He’s revealed to me everything I need to know (not me alone! I’m really not THAT special!) and promised to reveal everything else to me in time.

1 Corinthans 13:12
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

He knows me intimately –

Psalm 139:13-14
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

And He has given us the opportunity to know Him through his Son.

John 17:3
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

That’s it.
All we need to know.
The good news of salvation is simple, accepting that it is that simple is what is hard for us.
Anything else we learn along the way is a bonus – or a distraction.
Focus your knowledge today.

Suggested reading

Posted on

Hello, I’m God, I’m very pleased to meet you.

Hello, I’m Katherine, I’m 21 years old (Cough!), I’m married with 3 children, 5 cats, 1 rabbit and 3 Giant African Land Snails. My favourite meal involves sausages and I have no appendix.

What’s your name? No don’t tell me, I know – you like to be called Bob, your favourite colour is purple, you’re a ballerina, you like drinking Piña Coladas and getting caught in the rain.

No? Well I’m going to call you Bob anyway and I’ve already ordered you a cocktail at the bar, why don’t you dance over there and get it?!

You wouldn’t treat another human being like that, would you?
So why treat God like that?

So many times I’ve heard people talk about how they imagine God to be.
‘God is love – he wouldn’t send people to hell!’
‘I don’t think God would mind – he wants me to be happy.’
‘I think God is a woman.’
‘I like the God of the New Testament, but the God of the Old Testament is sooooo angry – my God isn’t like that.’

But we don’t have to guess what God is like – he has told us.

Exodus 34:5-7
Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

We don’t have to guess what God is like – he has shown us, and come down personally to shake us by the hand.

John 20:26-29
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

If you are worshipping God in any way other than the way he has asked to be worshipped, then you are not worshipping the God of the Bible.
God is the same from before page 1 until beyond the final page.

Have a read for yourself – it’s a great book.

If you would like help in knowing where to start please contact Grace Church and somebody will be happy to help.