Do I know you?

October 1, 2021

The last couple of weeks a thought has entered my mind that I don't "know" many people. Even though I am standing there with heart-wide-open, arms-wide-open, I have only casual, surface relationships for the most part. So I asked my aunt, "Do you know people?" Her answer was, "No." Then she said something that made me start thinking. She said, "I don't think you can really know someone unless you know them in the Spirit." So I had been meditating on this thought of "who do I know" when I was invited to a small group Bible study. Wednesday night, I met several people for the first time, and I "knew" them. It was crazy. It didn't take me long to realize this. I knew their heart. I knew what was in it. Their heart was just like mine. So I wanted to know what God said about this.

Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians, "My message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God - His plan that was previously hidden, even though He made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious LORD. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love Him"

But it was to us that God revealed these things by His Spirit. For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets. No one can "know" a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can "know" God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. (1 Corinthians 2:4-12)

Oh my goodness! These people that I met on Wednesday know the wonderful things God has freely given us. Wow! God has already revealed His deep secrets to them. They "know" God. It says also that no one can "know" a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit. For the last several years, I have been letting God have all of the spirits inside of me (the world's spirits) - those thoughts no longer rule me. Now, I am letting God's thoughts rule me. I think the people I met on Wednesday are doing the same thing. It was so cool!

Paul goes on to say, "When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritiual truths. But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For,

"Who can know the LORD's thoughts?
Who knows enough to teach Him?"

But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:13-16)

Wow! Only those who are spiritual can understand - can "know" what we are saying. "Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. I had to feed you with milk, not solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger. And you still aren't ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren't you living like people of the world?" (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)

So if we are controlled by our sinful nature - jealous and quarreling, we cannot "know" what God is saying. We have to get rid of all of that first. Those are the world's spirits. Then I read in 1 John, "Anyone who loves is a child of God and "knows" God. But anyone who does not love does not "know" God, for God is love." (1 John 4:7-8). "If we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us." (vs. 4:12) We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment (this is pretty important right now), but we can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully "experienced His perfect love." We love each other because He loved us first. If someone says, "I love God," but hates his brother, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see (all people), how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And He has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their brothers." (1 John 4:16-21)

So for us to "know" one another, we have to walk in love - with all people. "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Wow! So the only way we can "know" one another is if we love one another. Really love one another. I love you, and you love me. It has to go both ways.

Blessings to you, my friends. May we all come to "know" many people. We were created for these relationships.
​
Terri