“What matters supremely, therefore, is not, in the last analysis, the fact that I know God, but the larger fact which underlies it – the fact that he knows me. …There is tremendous relief in knowing that his love to me is utterly realistic, based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me, so that no discovery now can disillusion him about me, in the way that I am so often disillusioned about myself…. There is, certainly, great cause for humility in the thought that He sees all the twisted things about me that my fellow-men do not see (and am I glad!), and that He sees more corruption in me than that which I see in myself (which, in all conscience, is enough). There is, however, equally great incentive to worship and love God in the thought that, for some unfathomable reason, He wants me as His friend, and desires to be my friend, and has given His son to die for me in order to realise this purpose.”  J. I. Packer

 “… you have come to know God, or rather, to be known by God.”  Galatians 4:9

Moving From the Head to the Heart

• What feeling arise when you consider that God’s love for you is “utterly realistic” and without illusion?  that He “wants you as His friend?”
• If God’s knowledge of you is “based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about you”, then what can you do to ruin God’s love for you?
• What “matters supremely” is not, in the final analysis, that you know God, that you cling to him, or that you love him. These things matter – a lot – but what “matters supremely” is that God knows you, that God clings to you, and that God loves you. Take a moment to let that sink in.

Abba, thank you for loving me when I was cold to you, for seeking after and finding me when I was hiding, and for protecting and treasuring me as your child in spite of twisted things about me that my fellow-men do not see, and the corruption you see in me which is more even than that which I see in myself.

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For More: Knowing God by J. I. Packer

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These “Daily Riches” are for your encouragement. I hope you’ll follow my blog, and share it!  –  Bill (Psalm 90:14)