May 22: TO KNOW AND BE KNOWN BY THE LORD

For [God] remembered His holy promise, And Abraham His servant. He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with gladness. He gave them the lands of the Gentiles, And they inherited the labor of the nations, That they might observe His statutes And keep His laws. Praise the LORD! Psalm 105:42-45

The precious friendship that Abraham enjoyed with God brought guiding power into his life. Though his faith was not perfect, he sought God’s counsel, and God honored him by revealing to him His purposes. “For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” (Genesis 18:19) Before the LORD destroyed the cities of the plain, He revealed His plan for destruction to Abraham. “And the man of faith pleaded for the inhabitants of Sodom. Once he had saved them by his sword, now he endeavored to save them by prayer. Lot and his household were still dwellers there; and the unselfish love that prompted Abraham to their rescue from the Elamites, now sought to save them, if it were God’s will, from the storm of divine judgement.” PATRIARCHS AND PROPHETS by EGW (p.139)

Abraham’s heart carried a genuine love for perishing souls. And though he hated the sins in the corrupt city of Sodom and the others cities of the plain, he desired that their eyes might be opened to a friendship with God . . . that they might be saved. We see in Abraham the example of a Christlike spirit. God’s Son is Himself the Great Intercessor on behalf of sinners. Should not every one of us feel the pressing need to plead with the LORD for impenitent souls? As Abraham pleaded with God, his own lack of perfection surfaced in his thoughts – yet with humility, he persevered in prayer: “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the LORD…” (Genesis 18:27)

Jesus knows the true worth of a human soul and willingly gave up His life to pay the price for God’s broken law. As His followers, we are obligated to share the truth of the love manifested by the spotless Son of God. Even as He bore the indescribable burden of the world’s sin, He prayed for His maligners and murderers, saying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34 KJV).

It is the Spirit of Christ who is the author of His written word. In it, we are given His testimony of the humble, peace-loving man of whom He said, “I have known him...” “…because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws” (Genesis 26:5), he was called the friend of God (James 2:23b) and the father of all those who believe (Romans 4:11). Oh, that on the Day of His return, He might declare of each of us “I have known him [or her].”  (Compare to Matthew 7:23)