Week One Devotional: The Knowledge of God
Read
Chapter One of Crazy Love by Francis Chan (‘Stop Praying’)
Listen to BEHOLD (lyrics below)
Reflect
A. W. Tozer writes: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Do you agree with this statement? Why?
If what we think about God is the most important thing about us, then we must know Him rightly for who He is, not just who we experience Him to be; we don’t get to decide who God is.
Take time to meditate on Isaiah 6:1-7 and Revelation 4. Read the passages aloud slowly, doing your best to imagine what is being described.
What aspects of God is He revealing to you, either for the first time or in a new way?
In prayer, take time to ponder each of the following statements, asking Holy Spirit to show you through the Word what needs to shift in the way we see God:
God is holy.
God is eternal.
God is all-knowing.
God is all-powerful.
God is fair and just.
God is love.
God is merciful.
Realign
Ephesians 1:17-19 | “…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might…”
Take time to pray through this apostolic prayer, asking God to open your spiritual eyes so that you would know Him rightly. Be still and pay attention to what God may bring to mind; spend some time journaling what He says and your response.
Respond
In Chapter One, Francis describes an epidemic of spiritual amnesia to which none of us is immune. Amid hundreds of daily distractions, we are reminded to intentionally and consistently remind ourselves of Him.
In prayer, dialogue with the Lord and then create action steps in response to this question: how can you be intentional and consistent to behold God daily:
In your personal life?
In your marriage / family?
In your cell community / ministry / church?
As we reach our 30th year as a church, reflect on one aspect of God you have experienced in your own RiverLife journey that you would want the next generation to encounter as well.
Spend some time thanking God for revealing this aspect of His nature to you.
Think about how your cell community can be faithful in revealing this aspect of God’s nature to the next generation.
BEHOLD
Words and Music | Josh Yeoh
VERSE 1
Son of God
Incarnate deity
Obedient, embracing suffering
On the cross
You wore humility
That we would be forgiven
VERSE 2
Son of Man
Oh what a mystery
Came to serve though You are heaven’s King
Once for all
Died for humanity
That we would be God’s children
That we would be God’s children
VERSE 3
Lamb of God
Oh what a sacrifice
Precious blood that paid the greatest price
That one day
You will receive Your Bride
And we will be together
And we will be together
CHORUS
So we thank You for your love
The blood that made us one
Father, we desire to behold Your glory