After Jesus was raised from the dead, He appeared to His closest followers. They were afraid of what lay ahead of them, and Jesus knew that He was about to return to His Father in heaven. Here were sharp thinkers who were also deeply spiritual. The Puritans valued doctrine and devotion, in equal measure. must also understand that knowing God is not an optional part of the Christian life; it is the Christian life. Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). The English word know in this verse is a translation of the Greek word ginosko, which, in this context, means an experiential knowing, not simply an intellectual understanding of facts about God or Jesus or the Bible. In other words, it refers to an “I-Thou” relationship. Should you marry the person you’re dating? Should you take that job offer in a different city? Which college should you attend? Should you adopt a child? As the subtitle might suggest, the clerical sexual-abuse scandal is never far from their thoughts. But, as with other issues spotlighted in support of the case for unknowing received understandings of God “as we try to make sense of things”, some balance is sought for in their assessment of how “safeguarding” strategies have a negative impact on both accuser and accused.

If you sincerely asked Jesus into your life just now, then he has come into your life as he promised. You have begun a personal relationship with God. ►As the example above shows, even if we can see God with our own eyes and observe Him for years, we still may not really know God. Moreover, the Bible states that we won’t get to know God through wisdom either. It appears that we do not get to know God simply by the power of observation or our intellect. God delights when His people truly know Him, love Him, and enjoy the blessings of His faithful love, justice, and righteousness. As with any relationship, we need to be intentional about setting time aside to get to know someone. It is the same with knowing God. Here are some suggestions from the Bible about knowing Him. We sense that separation, that distance from God because of our sin. The Bible tells us that “All of us like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way.” 2

Jesus, I want to know you. I want you to come into my life. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin so that I could be fully accepted by you. Only you can give me the power to change and become the person you created me to be. Thank you for forgiving me and giving me eternal life. I give my life to you. Please do with it as you wish. Amen.” God wants you to go through the process of seeking His will without believing the lie that He is trying to hide it from you. If you believe that, you will struggle to see God as your loving Father. His desire is for you to know His will. So when you ask, expect Him to answer. As you seek God’s will, it’s important to be sure you are fully open to whatever God wants. If you have actually already decided what to do and are only coming to God so He can approve your decision, you are not really seeking His will. Principle Three: Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin for us. He now offers us complete forgiveness and a close relationship with him.

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Quiet down and make time for God | Psalm 46:10 ESV “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The following suggestions, drawn from Scripture and demonstrated over many centuries of church history, will be helpful as you seek Him in the days ahead: