Chapter 13—That I May Know Thee

BIBLE GEM

“This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.”—John 17:3CWG 36.1

QUESTION

How may the saving knowledge of Jesus become my personal experience?CWG 36.2

ANSWER

Through study of the Scriptures: “The Holy Scriptures are the perfect standard of truth, and as such should be given the highest in education. To obtain an education worthy of the name, we must receive a knowledge of God, the Creator, and of Christ, the Redeemer, as They are revealed in the Sacred Word.CWG 36.3

“Every human being, created in the image of God, is endowed with a power akin to that of the Creator—individuality, power to think and to do.”—Education, 17CWG 36.4

“As the perfection of His character is dwelt upon, the mind is renewed, and the soul is re-created in the image of God....CWG 36.5

“Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God's ideal for His children. Godliness—godlikeness—is the goal to be reached.”—Education, 18CWG 36.6

Experimental knowledge: “Oh, do we know God as we should? What comfort, what joy, we should have if we were to learn daily the lessons He desires us to learn! We must know Him by an experimental knowledge. It will be profitable for us to spend more time in secret prayer, in becoming personally acquainted with our heavenly Father.”—Medical Ministry, 102CWG 36.7

Soul re-created in the image of God: “The knowledge of God as revealed in Christ is the knowledge that all who are saved must have. It is the knowledge that works transformation of character. This knowledge, received, will re-create the soul in the image of God. It will impart to the whole being a spiritual power that is divine.”—The Ministry of Healing, 425CWG 37.1

“As Jesus was in human nature, so God means His followers to be. In His strength we are to live the life of purity and nobility which the Saviour lived.”—The Ministry of Healing, 426CWG 37.2

Study the prophecies: “The prophecies are to be studied, and the life of Christ compared with the writings of the prophets. He identifies Himself with the prophecies, stating over and over again, They wrote of Me; they testify of Me. The Bible is the only Book giving a positive description of Christ Jesus; and if every human being would study it as his lesson book, and obey it, not a soul would be lost.”—Fundamentals of Christian Education, 382CWG 37.3

The Word begets life: “The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in the Word of God. This Word imparts power; it begets life. Every command is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One. It transforms the nature and re-creates the soul in the image of God.”—Education, 126CWG 37.4

Conversing with God: “If we keep the Lord ever before us, ... we shall have a continual freshness in our religious life. Our prayers will take the form of a conversation with God as we would talk with a friend.”—Christ's Object Lessons, 129CWG 37.5

SUMMARY AND PRAYER THOUGHT

There is no other way to get to know God and His plan for our life than to develop daily and intimate relationships by earnest prayer, Bible reading, meditating on the life of Christ and listening to the Holy Spirit. Christ is our example! Because of His prayer life, He responded with love even when He was ridiculed, humiliated, spat upon, beaten until His back was in shreds, and finally crucified.CWG 37.6

Do we respond the same way when we have our light afflictions?CWG 37.7

Meditating on the life of Christ will definitely increase our tolerance level and we will learn what it means to be patient, kind, forgiving and loving. This is the way we become recreated in the image of Christ.CWG 37.8

My prayer is that you may find joy as I have, in spending two hours with the Trinity most mornings (my aim is every morning), while everyone in the house is still fast asleep, in prayer, Bible reading, meditating on the life of Christ and listening to God's voice. This is the sweetest, the nicest, the very best thing that happens to me each day, and it prepares me for a Holy Spirit filled day of victory and joy.CWG 37.9