Moving from Knowing into Accepting

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

According to the dictionary “to know is “to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information.”

What do I know?

• I know that the universe moves in an orderly fashion.  I observe it each morning as darkness gives way to light.

• I know that God exists.  Though I have inquired, I can find no other explanation for the wonders of life that surround me.

• I know that Jesus loves me “for the Bible tells me so.”

In knowing, we can still walk in doubt, unbelief and fear.  Knowing can sometimes be superficial.  Simply knowing often does not bring peace to the disquietude of the soul.  To still the tumult, we must move from merely knowing into fully accepting.  Accepting brings the transformation that comes from the renewing of our minds.

• When I accept, in the inner most part of my being, that the universe moves in an orderly fashion, I no longer fear the comet that might take it out of existence.  I do not succumb to the terrors of alarmists.  I find peace in accepting “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:16-17).

• When I accept that God is Who He says He is, I no longer search for explanations for the unexplainable.  I rest in His word, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,'' says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9.

• When I accept that Jesus loves me unconditionally, eternally and tenderly, rejection, fear, unforgiveness, anxiety, despair and anguish flee.  I then embrace His promise as Paul did, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

It is not enough just to know that we have been invited into His kingdom.  We must accept the invitation.

Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light'' (Matthew 11:28-30.