Knoweth part 4
Heart knowledge is a whole different thing than head knowledge. It's the difference between knowing ABOUT something with your head, and KNOWING something with your heart. Look at Psalm 139:14, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." I love this verse. It is jam packed with glorious truth. The first of which is that praise... is a response. All too often it seems like we praise God in the hopes that He will do something. As if our praise can make something happen. But that's backwards. And a little conceited. And a little fishy. If I have to bribe God to do something then maybe it's not something He should be doing in the first place. And if I think I can MAKE God do something then it seems as if I'm trying to make God in my image instead of the truth that I am made in HIS image. Marvellous are HIS works. HE made me (fearfully and wonderfully). And because of THAT I will praise Him. Praise is a natural reaction to the goodness of God. And it comes from our soul--or, in the New Covenant when the spirit and soul have both been swallowed up in the Holy Spirit, our heart--knows something right well. Knowing it because we've experienced it. Knowing it on the inside, istead of merely on the outside. It's not in one ear and out the other. It's something deep inside that fills us to overflowing and comes out naturally. It's the love of God coming from our hearts. We know it in our hearts, because it comes FROM the heart. It's the ultimate truth of the universe; the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hands. But remember our key verse for this Rant series? John 14:17, "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." This isn't something that can be learned. We CAN learn HOW to love, as we learn how we ARE loved. But this basic, fundamental, foundational truth comes from the Holy Spirit. From that still, small voice deep inside whispering with each beat of our hearts... "I love you, I love you, I love you." We know that because He dwells in us and we dwell in Him. But the world--even though they are desperate for love--doesn't know it. Because the world doesn't see it. The world sees an eye for an eye. The world sees, "If I do good I'll be rewarded, if I do evil I'll be punished." But the world really doesn't BELIEVE that either. Because the world tries to get away with stuff. It tries to invent "get out of jail free" cards. It runs from the very thing it wants (needs) most because it's afraid that it doesn't deserve it. That no matter how hard it tries it will never be able to earn it. And in that case, the world is right. You can't earn it. The difference is that WE know you don't NEED to earn it. All you need to do is know it, and believe it. Receive it, and release it. And guess what else: Unless we, who dwell with Him, show His love to the world... they won't ever see it. When I met my pastor--I KNEW he was a pastor, but didn't go to church at the time--he won me over without ever quoting the Bible or saying the name of God, or Jesus, or anything. He won me over because I KNEW he loved me. He showed me something different. A more excellent way. The very thing I had been looking for without even knowing it. And that's what we can do for the world. If you know it... throw it. You are loved. LOVE!