To know and be known

Paul wrote about love in his letter to the Corinthian people.  We see it today in the Bible titled, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.  It is a famous chapter, often quoted in times of deep caring between people like in a wedding ceremony or in a church meeting. It is challenging us to love up to God’s standard, like we have been loved by Him.  It is a pretty impossible to live up to without God’s love flowing in and through us.  But, if you have been around a church for any time, I am sure you have heard a lesson on this before. 

There is an interesting statement in verse 12 that says, “Now I know in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known”.  The then part is the future, a time not defined because it is when everything is completed and our incompletes will be canceled. It will all be clear to us. We will see it all then. See it as clearly as God sees us.  We will know Him directly as He knows us.

We may have an interest in knowing God, or we may have had an interest and grown uninterested for some reason.  I can’t begin to try to list all the reasons that a person has felt their love for God grow dim.  I can guess that there has been a time like that for you.  Or right now there is condition in your heart, a pause in your confidence, saying you might feel like He is unknowable.  It is at least foggy, like looking through a mist, Paul says.

Focus on the part about being known.  If there is a clear take-away from any of this, it can be that we are known by the Creator.  Completely known from the beginning of our lives, through everything we have been and done until this moment.  No need to try to hide that, it can not be hidden.  So, if He knows us as we are, and has stirred us to know Him what do we do with that? One thing is to accept that we are loveable.  God knowing us completely, loves us as we are and longs for us to know that.  Do we have things in our lives that we know are not as He would desire and need to change?  Yes.  But, it is easier to conform ourselves to His will and ways, even to imitate Him if we are confident that He cares about us even now as we are.

How does being known by God impact you?  Does it help you accept yourself, even if others don’t? Can it motivate you to seek to know God more?  Does it grow love in your heart that you can share with others?

If you have a chance this week, read these verses and share with me how you feel most loved -- by God or others.