Knowing God

August 22

Today’s Bible Reading:  Jeremiah 28-30; 1 John 3

Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading: 

Topic: Spiritual knowledge

SCRIPTURE:  1 John 3:24

…this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

(1 John 3:24 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

As human beings made in the image of God we have a unique make up. Just as God is a triune being of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we are also triune. Often this is expressed as us possessing a body, soul and spirit. Our understanding of our physical body is clear enough, but making the distinction between soul and spirit is a bit cloudy. How do you divide the inner man—the part that gives the body life? –the part that reasons and feels? –the part that loves and cries –the part that senses right from wrong –the part that can know God? John says we know it by the Holy Spirit who has been sent to dwell with us and in us.

APPLICATION:

If we relegate our conscious being only to our intellect and ability to reason, we deny ourselves a much broader and meaningful existence which cannot be acquired intellectually, but may only be realized spiritually. It is a gift beyond our understanding received from God by faith.

PRAYER:

May the power of God’s Holy Spirit reveal this truth to many.

Through Christ. Amen.  -AP