1 Corinthians 8:3 | Known By God

1 Corinthians 8:3 ESV says, “But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.”

Do you love God? That might sound like a fundamental question, but it is not simple. A question like this provokes our hearts to consider the degree to which we have acknowledged the Lord in our lives. Do you love God?

According to this verse, we can ask ourselves an alternative question: Are you known by God?

The heart of abiding is knowing God and being known by God. Love is the foundation. So what does it mean to love God?

In this chapter, Paul compares knowledge and information with knowing God. The “knowledge” referred to food offered to idols. Should they eat it or not? This cultural and religious discussion seemed important at the time, but it distracted them from the more critical matter of loving and knowing God.

I wonder if we have similar “knowledge” today. Are there ideas or practices in your life that you are clinging to that might distract you from simply loving God? Are you focused intently on following religious tasks and forgetting that God wants to encounter and disciple you by his Holy Spirit?

I find it fascinating that instead of having “knowledge” of God, we are invited to be known by God. The equation gets incredibly simple: learn to love God, and you will be known by God. We all want to live righteously, but is there any better plan for holiness than knowing God?

So I ask the question again: Do you love God?

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