FALLING SHORT OF KNOWING GOD
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Rom. 3:23, R.S.V.
Jill felt a deep estrangement from her mother, who always seemed to find fault with whatever Jill said. Finally, she began to understand the reasons behind her mother's thinking--and to appreciate her obvious love for her. In time Jill and her mother became close friends.
In our growing understanding of the sin problem, we see more and more that it is our lack of knowing God Himself that has always hindered our relationship with Him. This He knows, and in every conceivable way He seeks to win our confidence.
On the mountain with Moses, God passed before His hidden servant and proclaimed His name by declaring the quality of His dealings with mankind, which is His glory. In Jesus He lived before us with such winsome candidness that our hearts have been thrilled. Yet, even for believers, God has seemed somehow a little remote and unreachable. We "fall short" in our understanding of Him, and in the end it perpetuates our inability to relate totally and positively to Him. This results in what we typically call sin.
God understands our need to understand Him! In the most loving and thorough way He has set about to reveal Himself to us. That revelation has taken time, as it does in all lasting friendships. But that need not put us off. It is not a statement of any lack on His part of a desire to have us live eternally with Him. Rather, it is concrete proof that He is most eager to establish a union with us that will endure throughout the fathomless ages of eternity.
Just knowing that God cares so much about the quality of my relationship with Him causes my heart to swell. It means that He believes in my capacity to be that kind of friend. It means that His opinion of me is favorable, that He will go to any lengths to secure me to Himself. I can hold my head high! The great God of the universe values, and is aggressively seeking to establish, my friendship!
As I see Him as He is, I trust Him with my very life and future. I love Him with all my heart. And I know that the break in my relationship with Him will be forever healed. Let us seek Him with renewed assurance, knowing that His eagerness to be one with us far exceeds anything we have imagined before.
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Rom. 3:23, R.S.V.
Jill felt a deep estrangement from her mother, who always seemed to find fault with whatever Jill said. Finally, she began to understand the reasons behind her mother's thinking--and to appreciate her obvious love for her. In time Jill and her mother became close friends.
In our growing understanding of the sin problem, we see more and more that it is our lack of knowing God Himself that has always hindered our relationship with Him. This He knows, and in every conceivable way He seeks to win our confidence.
On the mountain with Moses, God passed before His hidden servant and proclaimed His name by declaring the quality of His dealings with mankind, which is His glory. In Jesus He lived before us with such winsome candidness that our hearts have been thrilled. Yet, even for believers, God has seemed somehow a little remote and unreachable. We "fall short" in our understanding of Him, and in the end it perpetuates our inability to relate totally and positively to Him. This results in what we typically call sin.
God understands our need to understand Him! In the most loving and thorough way He has set about to reveal Himself to us. That revelation has taken time, as it does in all lasting friendships. But that need not put us off. It is not a statement of any lack on His part of a desire to have us live eternally with Him. Rather, it is concrete proof that He is most eager to establish a union with us that will endure throughout the fathomless ages of eternity.
Just knowing that God cares so much about the quality of my relationship with Him causes my heart to swell. It means that He believes in my capacity to be that kind of friend. It means that His opinion of me is favorable, that He will go to any lengths to secure me to Himself. I can hold my head high! The great God of the universe values, and is aggressively seeking to establish, my friendship!
As I see Him as He is, I trust Him with my very life and future. I love Him with all my heart. And I know that the break in my relationship with Him will be forever healed. Let us seek Him with renewed assurance, knowing that His eagerness to be one with us far exceeds anything we have imagined before.
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