FAITH CAPSULE: Do you know Him or you only know about him?

1 Samuel 3

Knowing God for who He is will make the difference but to only know about God makes no difference. One who only knows about the Lord and attempt to take a position as one who knows the Lord can be possibly exposed to danger. The itinerant Jewish exorcists did not know the Lord but only know about the Lord when they attempted to call on Jesus and deliver people from evil spirit. It is written, “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We[ exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” (Acts 19:13) The exorcists’ statement, “…by the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches” is an indication of not knowing Jesus. As a result, they could not get any positive result for their prayer but a negative response which allowed the evil spirit to overpower them and prevailed against them. Interesting about the situation is that, the evil spirit recognized the Jewish itinerant and responded saying, “…Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” (Acts 19:15) The exorcist flee naked and wounded when the evil spirit jumped on them. They do not know the Lord.
Do you know Him or you only know about him?    
It is written I Samuel 3:1, “Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.” The fact that the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli was not evident that Samuel knew God, but only knew about God. When the Lord called Samuel, Samuel does not know God to answer God. It is written, “Then the LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” (Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.)” (1 Samuel 3:6-7) Samuel does not know God and could not answer like the one that knows God. Knowing God is what makes the difference. Eli helped Samuel to gain understand and to know when God calls by saying, “…go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears…” (1 Samuel 3:9) Samuel’s knowledge helped when “the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3:10) The boy Samuel understood how to hear from God and that made the difference in all the days of his life. Gain understanding of knowing Him and you will be enabled in your living for His glory.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to know Him more in all your ways.