| Our verse to DATE the Word on February 27 (2/7) is Joel 2:27 |
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| Joel 2:27 says, “Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.” |
| God has an objective of wanting His people to KNOW Him. Throughout the Word of God, we find that God wants His people to know Him! He wants us to know Him personally and relationally. In a recap of what God did in Egypt for the Israelites Moses says in Deuteronomy 4:35 “To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.” Here in Joel, we read the word “THEN.” What has been happening in the days of Joel had a purpose. With what was happening God’s people would “THEN” know that I am in the midst of Israel.” THEN they would know I am the LORD your God and there is no other. We need to know that God is at work making Himself known. He wants the knowledge to be more than knowledge about Him but a knowledge that is personal. In other words, you might say the Lord is a shepherd. You know this about God. God, however, wants you to be able to say the Lord is MY shepherd. I think we should be aware that there are several very important areas He wants us to know about Him. And we should know that He will bring about things sometimes in ways to make Himself known that we might wish He did not but remember His objective is so you will know Him personally. Notice a few things God wants you to personally know about Him. We can rest assured that He wants us to know His PRESENCE. He wants us to learn that He is our God and then know that HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU or FORSAKE YOU!! Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart.” He wants us to know His POWER. God used Pharoah to show His power to both the Egyptians and the Israelites. Exodus 9: 16 “But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power to you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. He wants us to know His PROTECTION! An example comes from Psalm 68:5. Psalm 68:5 says, “A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.” He wants us to know His PEACE. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. He wants us to know His PROVISION! Psalm 23 starts out with “The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” As Jesus discipled His disciples He purposely placed them in storms that would GROW and INCREASE their FAITH. In the storm, they learned WHO HE WAS and WHAT HE COULD DO! In the storm, they experienced His presence, His power, His protection, His peace, and His provision. How might God be working in your life today to make Himself more known to you? Job said in Job 42:5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees. ” Take a moment and consider what some of your “I had heard how God could but now I know personally that God can” statements are. An example would be based on something personal with me. I can tell you that I had heard about God’s comfort for years but I never knew it personally until my mother died on Mother’s Day 1989. I went from knowing about God’s comfort to knowing that God was MY comforter! Verse to DATE the Word on February 27 (2/27) is Joel 2:27. It says, “Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: (then you shall know) I am the LORD your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.” Continue Strong GROWING IN THE KNOWLEDGE and grace of the Lord! And remember to DATE THE WORD |