Christian Living

Seeking the Lords Heart

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
08/23/21
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“Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word.” (John 8:54-55)

In the early seventies, George Harrison wrote and recorded a song that caught my attention. It was one of those songs that stuck in my mind, one that I found repeating the lyrics over and over. The title was “My Sweet Lord,” and the lyric that stood out was this. “I really want to know you, really want to go with you, really want to show you, Lord that it won’t take long, my Lord.” As a Christian, that was appealing to me, as I wanted to know the Lord better.

Jesus was engaged in a conversation with the Pharisees when He spoke our text verse in response to the Pharisees’ previous statement. It was about the signs and wonders of Jesus, the Word of Truth He was speaking, and His claim He was the Son of God. “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.” (John 8:52) Before this verse, Jesus had said those who keep his Word would never see death. His response is significant.

Jesus never sought glory for Himself as everything He did was for the glory of and in the power of His Heavenly Father. The Pharisees could not accept that, and many people don’t today. Jesus was seeking the glory of His Father, God, as all people are to be doing. The work we do for ourselves is for our benefit. When we labor for the Kingdom of God, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, and God deserves our glory for that. The Christian life is lived by the grace of God, and our boast is in Him and not in ourselves. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

These two verses are powerful, and much could be written, but today I want to focus on the last phrase, “but I do know Him and keep His word.” The Pharisees knew God and have an excellent knowledge of the scriptures, but they did not know God. The Pharisees were all about keeping the law and following all the traditions. Knowledge, law, and maintaining traditions will not produce salvation. Knowledge alone cannot help you until you have an understanding of purpose. The law cannot save you as it only condemns. Traditions are only physical expressions and will not save you without knowing the spiritual purposes. The Pharisee’s time has come and gone, but those who practice their religion in a Pharisaical way are alive and well in the Church today.

Knowledge is an asset to anything you want to accomplish. My wife has asked me many times, “why don’t you read the directions first?” I guess I think I know it all only to find that I know nothing. Knowledge can lead to belief when you understand where the knowledge is pointing. You believe in what the knowledge teaches you. The Pharisees knew Jesus as a result of what they had seen and the signs and wonders He was performing. The Pharisees didn’t believe because they rejected the truths Jesus was teaching. My younger brother taught me some come to learn, and some come to criticize. The Pharisees came to criticize.

The Churches today are filled with people who have an excellent knowledge of scripture. Sadly many have little understanding of scripture. We all live in a busy world that is a distraction to serious bible study. Many profess to have faith in Jesus but have little knowledge of who Jesus is. Many say they have faith in Jesus when what they are saying is they know who He is. You can have vast knowledge, but without faith, you have no belief. Faith is living in the Word of God to accomplish the good work that He created you to do. We cannot live the Christian life as a spectator. We have to practice our Christina life through faith. That is how we are justified. By faith, salvation does not come by works, but salvation is justified by faith. (Romans 5:1) “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18)

We can have knowledge, belief, and faith, but it is useless if we have no obedience to prove our faith. Obedience to the Word of God gives us a good understanding of what we are to accomplish for Him. Our obedience to the commandment of our Lord is a statement of the love we have for Him. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15). With our reverent respect for the Lord, we will gain the Divine wisdom to see through the challenges set before us. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.” (Psalm 111:10)

Jesus said, “I do know Him and keep His word.” God the Father sent His Son to come amongst men and do His will to save the lost of this darkened world. Jesus, who is faithful and true, did the will of His Father obediently without variation. “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” (John 6:38). Jesus knew His Father, and through obedience to the Father’s will, He understood the higher purpose of His mission. A college professor who has never practiced his trade cannot reach far beyond the basics, as he has never practiced his profession.

God knows us, and He knows every detail about us better than we know ourselves. The key to salvation is we accept Jesus into our lives to live through us. To have a personal relationship requires more than God knowing us; it also requires us to know God intimately. We need to know His Word and act on it in faith, not just speak it but live it. Our active faith is the light we share in a darkened world. To do this, we need to seek after the heart of God as King David. “After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.” (Acts 13:22)

The goal of a Christian is to live a Christ-like life. Christ-like is to believe in His word and live it in obedient faith, gaining a greater understanding of applying Divine wisdom. The Holy Spirit residing within us gives an unquenchable council to face all the challenges, trials, and tribulations that come before us in our journey to the Promised Land. “But to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:24)

The purpose of Jesus is that people would come to know God personally, and they would know Him who God sent. “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3) We can do this by living as citizens of the Kingdom of God in the world so people may see His truth in action. We are in this world, but our life is lived in the Kingdom of God. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

My prayer for each of you is as the Apostle Peter that by the Grace of God, you continue to grow in the knowledge of the King of kings, believing in His name in the obedience of your faith gaining understanding and Divine wisdom to accomplish the good work set before you. .“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)

Thomas Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, March 25, 2020