A Christian radio program was discussing the third commandment: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. The speaker was asked what she does when someone in her presence is cursing. She responded that she asks them if they ever considered why it is that God’s name is used when they are angry. Why not the god of other religions? Why not Buddha or Allah? Why, even, is Satan’s name not used as a curse? She then tells them that their words actually hurt her, just as hearing something vile about a friend would, because Jesus is her BEST friend, and it wounds her to hear His name used as a curse.

    While her point certainly struck home, what affected me most was that she could say that Jesus was her best friend. I understood that all of the blessings of the Christian life do not come at the instant you put your faith in Christ. I knew that it is a growth process as we walk with Him and develop our personal relationship, but I admit I was a little jealous. I can wholeheartedly say that I love the Lord, but there was a time I could not have truthfully said this, so I know that I am growing. I wanted to know Him so well that I could also call Him friend — even best friend.

    I was still a fairly new Christian. He was faithfully teaching and guiding me. I thought back to how it was that I came to love Him. I had always loved what He has done for me. I loved how He loves me. But, could I truthfully say that I love Him with all of my heart, mind, and strength as we are commanded? I felt like a traitor as I admitted to myself that I could not. I prayed that He would teach me how to love Him as he deserved.

“Love and faith are at home in the mystery of the Godhead. Let reason kneel in reverence outside.”

    I forgot about this prayer as daily life concerns crashed in. My hunger for the Lord, however, kept me seeking His truth. I found a book called The Knowledge of The Holy by A. W. Tozer. He states that the current Christian church has a vision of God that is so diminished, so “decadent as to be utterly beneath the dignity of the Most High God.” Tozer was quick to state that God is incomprehensible, yet we may know Him through his Son. Through Christ, by faith and love, we may enter in and know Him. “Love and faith are at home in the mystery of the Godhead. Let reason kneel in reverence outside.”

    So many blessings came from reading this book that I wanted to continue learning more about God’s glory. I began taking God’s attributes, on at a time, and praying for Him to reveal His truth to me. Oh, dear reader, if you want a blessing, pray with your whole heart for God to reveal Himself to you! As Anselm pleaded, “Let me seek Thee in longing, let me long for Thee in seeking; let me find Thee in love, and love Thee in finding.”

    Although I am still learning daily about who God is, it was not long into this quest that I was joyously able to say that I love Him above ALL. That He is my all-in-all. But the amazing thing is that I also discovered that I am HIS all-in-all!

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. John 15:15