I have a Confession to Make
I have a confession to make. There's something God told me that I've been hiding for 3 years. It all started during the summer of 2020. Three years ago, when the light point started, God taught me a pattern for growing in deeper intimacy with him by living for his glory. The sun was preparing to set, casting a warm sepia-toned filter over the world, but the heat wasn't unbearable, so I went outside to talk with God. I can't remember exactly what I was praying about; there was a lot of growth and self-discovery happening in that season, but I heard the Holy Spirit more clearly than I ever had before. He said, "See, Know, Love". With those 3 words, God gave me language for the journey he was taking me through in which I reached radical new levels of intimacy and faith in God. He presented a framework for this fundamental shift that seemed to draw me into the center of God's heart in a way I'd never experienced before. He revealed that the transformation could be understood as a replicable cycle I'd go through as I continued to follow him. The process was simple: See God, Know God, Love God.
It was a powerful revelation of this beautiful dance known as being a follower of Christ, which is precisely why it captivated me. The idea was captivating in its simplicity. It anchored me in a season where so much was unknown, a season that, in many unexpected ways, feels like the one I'm in now. It gave me hope that grounded me in that season of radical recalibration. See God. Know God. Love God. I learned to anchor my purpose in that and found rest there. If you know what to look for, you'll see this theme incorporated throughout The Light Point Book. Here's an excerpt from the end of chapter 7.
"Intimacy is not accidental. It is a process of relationship building and sanctification that you enter into intentionally. God took me through the process before He revealed its significance in my life. However, in hindsight He has called me to simply explain something that was so confusing and painful for me. God wants intimacy with you and as you see God, know God, and love God, you can experience His intimate gospel too."
You see, "see God, know God, love God" right there. Clear as day. In fact, many people don't know this, but there were 3 extra chapters of the book that captured the revelation of what each phase of the journey to intimacy looked like in detail. However, as I finished the book, God told me to take them out and make them into a devotional (more on that soon). I obeyed and took the chapters out, but as I grew busy with work and seminary, I didn't do much with those chapters.
Nevertheless, God continued to guide me deeper and deeper in him. Those words, See, Know Love, rang true in my spirit and served as the lens through which I understood my relationship with God. The revelation of this pattern was so profound and important to me that if I was going to share it, I wanted to make sure I conveyed how revolutionary seeing God, knowing God, and loving God could be. (as if the revelation belonged to me and not the spirit of God) It was so real to me, but I didn't feel like I had the space or time to articulate the message, so I didn't do much with it. I didn't write another book, didn't reveal the pattern; I just held on to it and took it deep into the center of my heart.
[ A brief aside, I think this is why it is so important to pray into whatever word God gives you and seek his face for timing and strategy because I felt terrible about not writing this devo for years! (and yes, some of my hesitation was ungodly fear that I resulted in a righteous conviction) But you can't ever out-wait God. His patience and grace are remarkable. Maybe I should have written the devo in 2022, but the revelation I've received this year alone?? I don't see how I could have written the devotional without it. I look back on those 3 chapters from 3 years ago, and it was all true, but I hadn't even scratched the surface of what God wanted to reveal. So, for anyone feeling like they have to go go go with the word God gave them right now, or they'll be in disobedience. REST. God makes everything beautiful in its season. You won't miss what he has for you if your heart is submitted. This is not to say delay obedience until you feel comfortable; sometimes, the instruction is urgent. However, God doesn't pressure or rush us. He leads us. In time, he will show you how to walk worthy of your calling.]
In this season, God is moving, and he's saying I want my children to know how to come back to the father's heart in a new way because I am doing a new thing on the earth. The Kingdom of God suffers violence, and the violent take it by force, but they can't take what they aren't a part of. And they can't be a part of the Kingdom if they are far from the God of the Kingdom. God is saying many are saved, but few are close enough to carry out the work of the Kingdom, the work of glory. Therefore, now is the time to draw nearer. If you think you're already close, ask yourself: "How can I reach the end of an intimate God? When was the last time I thought about what God is calling me to do for his Kingdom? In this season, God says he's reaching out to his children and
Inviting them to see God- open their spiritual eyes to a revelation of the glory and Kingdom of God (2 Corinthians 3:13-18)
Inviting them to know God- walk with God by faith, growing in Christ to understand his ways (Philippians 3:8)
Inviting them to love God- grow in obedience to the will of God and Love of people (1 John 4:7-9)
This is not. It's not a "solution," a formula to follow to be a better Christian. It's a revelation of how God draws his children into intimacy with himself, a pattern repeated throughout scripture, a lifestyle; the gospel presented as a path to intimacy, and I want us to explore it together. If we are created for the glory of God, then what does it actually mean for us to live like it? Let's find out together.
So there! The secret is out. I'm finally speaking out on what God has been telling me to teach on. I’m finally walking in complete obedience. The revelation is simply too deep and heavy to keep to myself My heart is that whatever I share would help people see their entire lives transformed by the power of the living God the way it did for me. How do we live whole and Holy for the glory of God? By seeing, knowing, and loving God (who allows you to see, know, and love yourself and others, but more on that later). By the grace of God, I'll be breaking down more what that means. And like I said in the last blog post (check it out if you haven't gotten a chance to read it yet), the month of October is focused on Seeing God. Join me every Saturday morning on Ig Live (and soon on YouTube) for in-depth Bible study as we explore how to experience new levels of intimacy with God by setting our gaze on him.
Scripture of The Week
1 Thessalonians 5: 4-11
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
P.S. - the devotional notes, prayer points, and resources I mentioned last week are loading, I’m just taking the time to curate a comprehensive resource and do things right. Thank you so much for your patience and grace. Stay tuned!