With God: Intimacy, Listening, Hearing His Voice

I've been doing a deep dive in these matters lately and am really enjoying what I've been learning. But even re. these issues, deeply meditating on them ...Him, there is a caveat. It is this-

Knowledge and learning no more equal relationship with the Lord than they do with God and the devil himself. Shocking isn't it? Yet true.

Think of all the scriptures, the face-to-face (as it were) encounters (Book of Job, etc.) and you begin to realize that information doesn't equal relationship, that even as Proverbs speaks and commands to get knowledge, wisdom and understanding that these in and of themselves do not equal intimacy, the art of listening and hearing God's voice.

Information isn't transformation though it's helpful and even essential in the process of linking with the Father via Jesus the Son by the Spirit of grace Who instructs us via the Word of God and directly.

After half-a-century plus of walking with the Lord He's STILL too vast, deep, wide and amazing, STILL beyond my comprehension and surely will be no matter how much I learn about Him. So recently the 3 points in the title of this post are what I've been praying about, discussing with Him and working on.

To meditate by the way, is a scriptural matter of pondering, of thinking more deeply about something- and in this case, Some One.

I often use the term "focus" and I'm reminded of Tozer writing "call home your restless thoughts" and truly seeking after God.

How many through the ages have fallen away from Jesus not because they didn't have information (though in some cases that surely was a part in their spiritual downward spiral)? Seminary and Bible College grads, longtime pastors, etc., have dropped further away from saving faith in Jesus Christ on the basis of (ready?) ARROGANCE in the area of believing in themselves and their "enlightened" knowledge more than the Gospel, the Person of the crucified and risen Christ. Yes, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" as Hosea clearly stated about backslidden Israel- but read the context and you see he emphasized both knowing the scriptures AND listening, actually hearing and obeying the voice of God.

We each have the ability as to how we approach the Lord and His "throne of grace". Raw intellectualism isn't the key- Jesus Himself is "The Key" for "in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" writes apostle Paul.

I think a great question is: are you, myself, all who proclaim to walk with the Savior growing in intimacy with God in spirit and truth, truly listening and hearing His voice?

Are we in love, obeying Him? I don't mean trying to earn salvation as that's impossible!

The Living Word seeks us out for deepening relationship with Him and in response to act, to live out what He has called us to do.

Just as genuine, deepening marriage is FAR more than a mere transaction, so it is with our daily walk with the Lord!

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn