“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” – II Corinthians 4:6
It is good and right to deeply study God’s Word, to know all about God, who He is, what He has done. And this knowledge of God ought to draw our hearts to delight in Him, to worship Him. That is our worship to God, having our “inner man,” our minds and hearts once in darkness now speak “let there be light” up on to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Then, what a privilege and joy to study God’s Word to know Him more! To know this truth, “Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:15). He replaced our stone hearts once in the dark about the things of God with a new heart, making us new creatures, born again to delight ourselves in God. We study His Word, we make church a priority, from a duty of delight. To come delight ourselves in the gathering of God’s people because we know God to be of the highest worth, and we have been invited in Jesus Christ to treasure God of highest worth.
What a blessing to my heart to know Jesus Christ, who died for my sins and is raised from the dead to sit at the Father’s right hand, intercedes for me. He who is wise, sovereign, and knows the future is guiding me. Even if I must walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I am blessed to know that the glorious Jesus Christ is with me, will not abandon me, and promises to always be with me even to the end of the age.
And God has announced His glory to all creation from the heavens, the works of His fingers (Psalm 19:1). To study this even deeper in His Word, to be reminded regularly in Bible Study and Sunday services, is to know God more which stirs my heart to thank Him.
Yet, there remains so many in the dark about God. They may know and even affirm truths, but it doesn’t lead to worship. As Romans 1:21 says, “Although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
I am grieved in my spirit that so many people in this world live and die without giving a serious thought to God, much less care to know Him. They remain in the dark. Even as Christ has come, “the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John3:19).
Reader, if you are in the dark, don’t remain there. Don’t love your works which offends God. You are invited by Jesus, come to Me. He will not turn you away. Yes, He is the light which exposes you a sinner, a criminal to God and an offense to His glory. Yet, the Light calls you to repentance (Luke 5:32). To have an illuminated mind to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, turn from your sins, and follow Him. Come and know this blessing to know the Lord is your God.
Know God’s greatness. He created all things for a purpose, to praise Him. He announces His glory in creation. And He who is eternally holy and just sent forth His Son Jesus Christ to save sinners. Respond in faith, dear reader, by calling out to the Lord Jesus. Save me. Forgive me. I want to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Respond to knowing His greatness by giving Him thanks and worship Him. Right thinking about God leads to right worship of God. I invite you to Allison Avenue Baptist Church Sundays at 9:30am for deeper study of God’s Word in Sunday School, 11am for worship service to gather and give thanks to our God mighty to save.
Heavenly Father, I pray now with an urgent heart, open the eyes of these readers to Your Word, to see Christ Jesus, to respond in faith, and be thankful and worship You. You are worthy of our eternal praise and we thank You for the goods news that Jesus saves sinners and that in Him we enjoy communion with our God and with His saints in worship. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
