PRESS ON TO KNOW HIM

“Oh, that we might know the Lord!
Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us
as surely as the arrival of dawn
or the coming of rains in early spring.”
Hosea 6:3 NLT
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Most of us, who trust in the Lord, have precious memories of the joy that filled our hearts, and the spiritual fire which burned in our souls when we first believed. But most likely since then we have also experienced times when the joy of the Lord had faded and the fire had died down to ash covered embers. What happened? What brought about the change?

In science there is a principle that says, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” The same principle is also at work in our spiritual lives. If we draw back from the Lord, by whatever degree, we are drawing closer to the enemy of our soul, and consequently lose joy and fire. This “backsliding” never just happens to us, it is brought about by personal choices we make.

Our key scriptures today from Hosea six is part of a call to God’s people to repent. They had drifted from him, and were about to suffer severe consequences. The prophet identifying himself with them says, “Come, let us return to the Lord… Let us press on to know him.” To know him implies more than just having information about him. It refers to taking deliberate steps to have an intimate relationship with him – a relationship which grows out of obedient submission to him.

If we have never been close to the Lord, or find ourselves not as close as we once were, we don’t need to be afraid to admit it to him. We can press ever closer to him, he won’t scold us or push us away. His arms are wide open to welcome us! Our “pressing on to know him,” has been on his heart all along - that’s what he has been waiting for. “He will respond to us favorably as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”