Understanding Our Role in Knowing God, His Justice, and His Ways
Introduction: The Challenge of Christian Knowledge
If you’ve ever wondered why many people who call themselves Christians have a limited understanding of God, you’re not alone. His justice and His ways are often misunderstood. Seeing friends or fellow church members struggle with basic questions about faith can be surprising. It is sometimes even discouraging. Why does this happen—and what can we do about it?
Modern Preaching and Its Impact
One big factor is the influence of modern preaching. In many churches today, the focus has shifted from digging deep into scripture. Instead, it has moved to delivering messages that are easy to digest and make us feel good. While encouragement and positivism are important, delivering the full truth of God’s character can be neglected. His justice, His expectations, and His ways get watered down or left out. This can leave believers with a shallow understanding of who God really is.
Personal Responsibility: The Holy Spirit and the Bible
But here’s an important truth: Every Christian has the Holy Spirit living inside them and access to the Bible. That means each of us is responsible for our own spiritual growth. The Holy Spirit is our helper and teacher, guiding us into truth if we’re willing to listen. And today, Bibles are more available than ever—online, in print, and in countless translations. We don’t have to wait for someone else to tell us what’s true—we can read and discover it ourselves!
The Danger of False Prophets
The Bible also warns about false prophets—people who claim to speak for God but lead others away from the truth. Sometimes, these voices are loud and convincing, and they can even come from inside the church. That’s why it’s so important not to just accept everything we hear. We must check it against scripture. We should also listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying in our hearts.
Encouragement to Study and Seek Guidance
If you feel like your own knowledge is lacking, don’t be discouraged! Every believer can grow in understanding, no matter how new they are to the faith. Even those who have been walking with God for a long time can continue to grow. Start by making time to read the Bible for yourself, even if it’s just a few verses a day. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and teach you. Talk with other believers who are serious about knowing God. The more you seek, the more you’ll find.
Biblical Principle: Reaping What We Sow
There’s a simple biblical principle to remember. It is powerful: “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7). In other words, our choices matter. If we ignore God’s word, we’ll miss out on the depth and richness He wants to share with us. If we let others do all the thinking for us, we’ll miss out as well. But if we seek Him and study His word, we’ll grow strong in faith. By relying on the Holy Spirit, we won’t be easily led astray.
Conclusion: Call to Action and Hope
The challenge of understanding God, His justice, and His ways isn’t something we can solve overnight. But the good news is that God is eager to reveal Himself to anyone who seeks Him sincerely. Let’s take responsibility for our own spiritual journeys. We should make use of the incredible resources we have. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide us. By doing this, we will avoid deception. We will also experience the joy and confidence that comes from truly knowing God.
Minister A Francine Green
December 2025
afrancinegreen.com 