“If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.”- 1 Corinthians 8:2-3
In Chapter 3 (“Knowledge about Him or Intimacy with Him”) of Not a Fan, author Kyle Idleman discusses Luke’s account of Jesus’ invitation to eat at the home of Simon, a Pharisee. Pastor Idleman observes that Simon deliberately ignored and insulted Jesus by refusing to greet Him with a kiss, wash His feet, or anoint His head with oil. As a Pharisee, Simon had plenty of knowledge about God, but never had surrendered his heart.
The author emphasizes that studying and learning from God’s Word is invaluable, yet knowledge alone is not enough. He asserts that churches have well-established systems of learning that result in knowledge, but not necessarily in intimacy:
“The problem isn’t knowledge. The problem is that you can have knowledge without having intimacy. In fact, knowledge can be a false indication of intimacy. Clearly, where there is intimacy there should be a growing knowledge, but too often there is knowledge without a growing intimacy.”
The devastation of our ministry downsizing or vocation loss can affect our established level of intimacy with God quite severely. We must be persistently intentional in maintaining or reestablishing that intimacy.
Today’s question: How did your vocation loss test your level of intimacy with Jesus? What has helped you to reconnect? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Yada, yada, yada”