When asked what is the greatest commandment, Jesus said that it is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. But how does one cultivate a love of God?
You’ve probably heard the most repeated command in Scripture is “fear not.” But how does one stop fearing?
I believe the answer to both is a single verse. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” What’s interesting about this verse is that I do not believe it to be to be separate commands. “Be still,” and also, “know that I am God.” No. Rather, I believe it to be a single statement. Be still, and you will know that I am God. Be still, or you will not know that I am God.
If I knew God, I would love God. To know Him is to love Him, to know love, and to be transformed by His love. I imagine that every time we discover something about God we find less than love-worthy, we are missing something crucial. Every time we see something God does that we do not love, we’re missing the point.
It is hard to fear something small when you know the fear of the Lord. When the greatest, scariest, biggest, baddest thing out there is on your side, what is there left to fear? If we knew God, wouldn’t everything else just fall into place? Maybe that’s why Jesus said, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Perhaps this life eternal that I am always chasing, both to have it and to live it, isn’t something to chase. It’s something I have in fullest measure when I know God, when I cease striving, when I am still. Then I will know that He is God.