Be Enlightened By The Word

Socrates was a famous philosopher in Greece who lived in Athens during the 5th century BCE. He was a legendary figure even in his own time who was admired by his followers for his integrity, self-mastery, profound philosophical insight, and great argumentative skills. He questioned subjects like ethics, virtue, and justice. He knew the importance of knowledge and pursued others to find knowledge for themselves instead of relying on someone else to fill your mind. One of his famous quotes is, “To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.”

Many years ago, I attended a Beth Moore conference. She spent the entire weekend speaking on Ephesians 1:18. When she first told the group that she would spend the weekend on one verse I was skeptical. I had no idea how much one person could find in one verse, but of course she could do it. Needless to say, I left that conference with Ephesians 1:18 being the theme of the ministry God was calling me to.

As Socrates said, we gain knowledge when we admit to ourselves that we know nothing. Then we begin the process of opening our hearts and minds to learn new things.

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he was praying that believers would know God better. We can pick up a biography or look someone up on social media to get know them, but nothing compares to actually spend time with that person and knowing who they truly are. It is the same way with God. While reading the Bible, works of theology, commentaries, and devotionals are great, they will never bring you to a place where you truly know God if you don’t allow these tools to make you sit in God’s presence. Through using the Bible to read who God is and the person He was here on earth, you will know His character and His will for His people. Then through prayer you will begin a life of communicating with Him. You will get to know His will for your life the deeper you know Him.

I find it amazing that He is a God that seeks us out and wants us to fully know Him. The more we get to know Him, the more hope we have in our daily lives, but also in the life to come with Him. Romans 8:23-24 says, “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?” As we are enlightened by God’s Word and know Him on a deeper level, we have hope in His promises, miracles, and goodness. We have hope in His truth and justice. We have hope in the love He has for us. And we have hope in what is to come.

As I listened to Beth Moore that weekend, I realized that was exactly what I needed. I needed to know God on a deeper level; to find the hope I needed to survive this wretched world. God was calling me to get to know Him deeper so that I may help you be enlightened through His Word and spend time with Him each week.

My prayer is that you be like Socrates and not just take someone’s word for who God is. Take time to know Him on your own. Each day as you open your Bible, read a Thursday Morning With Jesus, and spend time in prayer you are working on knowing Him better. He desires you to know Him and as you know Him deeper, you will be blessed by His wisdom, gifts of the Spirit, and His hope.

Digging Deeper:

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

How have you grown to know God more recently?

What can you do in your daily schedule to add time to build a deeper relationship with Christ?