‘Know that the LORD is God…’ —Psalm 100:3a
Not long ago my thinking went something like this: to know God is to love Him; and partly why our love for Him lacks fervor is because our knowledge of Him lacks depth. The Church, then, ought to teach as much as it preaches, and Christians ought to give themselves to the study of God. Knowledge would grow and, correspondingly, love would intensify. Simple enough, right? Conceptually, this isn’t entirely flawed, just not as precise as it could be.
Knowing God does not necessitate loving Him. The head does not necessarily oblige the heart. Exhibit A? Satan and his demons. Note their response to the Son of God’s teaching in a Capernaum synagogue:
‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!’ —Mark 1:24 (italics mine)
They knew Him well, in some ways better than we do. Yet they loved Him not. There is more to the equation. Knowledge of, does not, on its own, equal love of. The head cannot, no matter its expertise, compel action. Something else must be engaged.
A quick example: I know in my head that doing right and living righteously brings life and spiritual health and wholeness, and lasting satisfaction. I know this. But I do not often do this. I do, however, often exchange the truth for a lie, even though I know the truth. So what’s missing?
Here’s the more complete equation:
Knowledge of God + Belief (faith) in Him = Love of God
Belief is the key. It is the ingredient that brings it all together. And that’s why Jesus was so adamant to emphasize it, again and again.
‘Daughter, your faith has made you well…’
“Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God…’”
“He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’”
‘Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.’
‘Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?’
“When He saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.’”
Simply, Spirit-led belief in God, in His goodness, His provision, His providence, His plan—this is what begets love, what swells the affections of the heart. And it’s what distinguishes us from demons.
Don’t get me wrong, knowledge is good; it points to the Truth. But it’s exactly at that point that the head becomes futile if not for the heart. It is the heart that acts next, to either engage in the Love Affair of all love affairs, changing it for the better for ever, or to turn away from that alone which can save.
Knowledge of God is the road. Belief (faith) in Him is the rubber. And where the two meet with great friction and fury—this is action spurred by incomparable love.
May our knowledge of Him strengthen our faith in Him, that our love for Him would well up in true, spirit-filled worship.
Grace to you, to know Him, yes, but to believe in Him, and then love Him,
Voice of another
James 2 teaches us that the fruit of our faith is what we do in and with it. As the half-brother of Jesus, he probably saw many of those examples and how it was evident that their faith was lacking because they had no action that was inspired by it, or that it was abundant because of said results. Good thoughts!
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