This is what the LORD says:
“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV, emphasis mine)
It still stuns me. The One who created the Universe, who holds the stars in His hands … wants to know me. According to Jeremiah 9:23-24, God thinks the most important thing about me is that I possess the understanding to know Him. He values that ability more than any wisdom, strength or riches I may have. In fact, He’d like me to boast about this ability to know Him, if I’m of a mind to boast. I have His permission to brag about knowing Him, the living God. Seriously. What could be better that that? What could compare with knowing the King of kings?
I’ve loved God for a very long time. I still remember kneeling and inviting Him to be my Savior at four years old. I remember the joy. I remember the finality of the decision. I remember my gladness that I was His. Later, at twelve, I walked the aisle and dedicated myself to “full time Christian service” and chose to be baptized. Even through times of sin and disobedience, I never wavered in claiming Christ as my Savior.
But … somewhere in the midst of living a busy life, that closeness with God was replaced for a season with a sort of “Christian Club” mentality. I spoke the club lingo and was a member in good standing. I even did lots of great things for God. But my knowing God slipped away into mere acquaintance. Distance between us grew the busier I became. I knew enough about God to sound pretty smart. But intimacy with God? Not there.
I remember clearly the week I attended a conference in California, so excited to be there representing my state. After arriving on a Sunday, by Monday I had the flu so severely that I understood why people die from it. I thought that might be preferable to what I was feeling. While all the other women enjoyed great speaking and marvelous times of worship and fellowship, I spent the week in my room … alone. They prayed for my healing. I prayed for my healing. I stayed sick.
On Thursday, while everyone was away, I shuffled out to the deck overlooking a mountainside. Wrapped in a blanket even though it was warm outside, I was listless and frustrated and sick. Did I mention that part? Feeling like it was the right thing to do, but hardly motivated to dig deep, I opened my Bible at random. The passage that caught my eye—by God’s good plan—was when Jesus is asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” His answer in a nutshell, “The greatest command is to love God.” Yeah. Just. Love. Him.
He whispered to me on that mountainside, “Do you love Me?” And I whispered back, “Yes, I do.” That was all.
I spent the morning doing just that. The most important command. Loving God. Weeping with the joy of it. Affirming that all I had planned to do that week, all the learning I had longed to absorb, all the fellowship I had desired … all was nothing compared to the greatest thing.
That time of sickness and helplessness when God asked me to love Him … changed me. Loving Him and knowing Him once again became preeminent. The joy of simply being with Him was overwhelming. Even in sickness.
Every time I am tempted to simply be a part of the “club” again, going through Christian motions without actually noticing God, He reminds me of that day high up in the California mountains. “Do you love Me?”
Yes, Lord, I do!
Help me to love You more and more.
You are loved,
Sharon
Sweet Selah Ministries
Vision
To encourage a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth that stillness and knowing God matter most—
and will be reflected in more effective work and service
Mission
To offer resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)
