This devotional series is based on J.I. Packer’s classic work, Knowing God. There is no greater quest, no more important activity, nothing that should be a higher priority than getting to know God. Too many Christians know about God without making their time with him personal. These devotionals are designed to challenge you to ask questions of yourself, bring these questions before God, make you think, and transform your relationship with God. My prayer is that your study will overflow in emotion, in touching your heart, in connecting with God, and sharing your relationship with others. The book consists of 22 Chapters, thus this series last 22 days. Dig in!
Reflections on Chapter 1: The Study of God
God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. (Westminster Shorter Catechism, “What is God?”)
The Study of God should humble the mind and expand it (Quote from Charles Spurgeon). Your Bible study is not meant to be simply intellectual, but rather personal.
Motivation: why do we study God?
· Theological knowledge tends to intoxicate us, making us proud and conceited.
o Knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God. (1 Cor 8:1b-3)
· Therefore, we must examine our motives even for seeking to know God. Psalm 119 illustrates a man passionate to get to know God – but not for theory, but to apply his knowledge to his life.
o Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—they do no wrong but follow his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. (Psalm 119:1-8)
· Our aim must be to know God Himself better
· Our concern must be to enlarge our acquaintance – not only doctrine, but with God
· Seek to be led by God
· Turn each truth that we learn about God into a matter for meditation before God, leading to prayer and praise to God – meditation is truly a lost art today
How do we study God?
1. God speaks to man in the Bible, given to us to teach us salvation. Pray to listen to God’s voice as your read his word.
2. God is Lord and King over His world; He rules for His glory, displaying His perfections in all that He does that man and angels may worship and adore Him. Seek to worship Him.
3. God is Savior, active in sovereign love through Jesus to rescue believers from the guilt and power of sin, to adopt them as His sons, with all of the blessings of sonship. Call Him Father and accept His embrace and forgiveness.
4. God is Triune: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; the three work together to save us: the Father purposing redemption, the Son securing it, the Spirit applying it. Pray to the Father through the Son in the Spirit starting by accepting your redemption.
5. Godliness means responding to God’s revelation in trust, obedience, faith, worship, prayer, praise, submission, and service. Life must be seen and lived in the light of God’s Word. This, and nothing else, is true religion. How would you describe your relationship with God?
Turning truth into relationship through meditating before God and praising him:
· The Godhead of God is what sets God apart from men and marks the difference between the Creator and His creatures: Meditate on the self-existence, infinity, eternity, and unchangeable nature of God.
· The Powers of God are unique. No one is like Him. Praise God for His almighty power, omniscience, and omnipresence!
· The Perfections of God demonstrate His moral character as manifested in His words and deeds. Consider God’s holiness, love, mercy, truthfulness, faithfulness, goodness, patience, and justice.
· The Pleasures of God help us know God as a person. Pray to understand what pleases him, offends Him, awakens His wrath, and gives him satisfaction and joy.