Towards the beginning of his book Knowing God, J.I. Packer gives four evidences of a true knowledge of God. He says:
1. Those who know God have great energy for God.
2. Those who know God have great thoughts of God.
3. Those who know God show great boldness for God.
4. Those who know God have great contentment in God.
He gives scriptural back-up for each point on the list. t’s worth our time to contemplate each one.
I particularly appreciated his comments about the first point:
1. Those who know God have great energy for God.
In one of the prophetic chapters on Daniel we read, “the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (11:32 KJV). The RSV renders it thus: “the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” In the context, this statement is introduced by “but” and set in contrast to the activity of the “contemptible person” (v. 21) who sets up “abomination that causes desolation” and corrupts by smooth and flattering talk those whose loyalty to God’s covenant has failed (vv.31-32). This shows us that the action taken by those who know God is their reaction to the anti-God trends which they see operating around them.
While their God is being defied or disregarded, they cannot rest; they feel they must do something; the dishonor done to God’s name goads them into action.
It is simply that those who know their God are sensitive to situations in which God’s truth and honor are being directly or tacitly jeopardized, and rather than let the matter go by default will force the issue on men’s attention and seek thereby to compel a change of heart about it – even at personal risk.
Nor does this energy for God stop short with public gestures. Indeed, it does not start there. People who know their God are before anything else people who pray, and the first point where their zeal and energy for God’s glory come to expression is in their prayers.
The invariable fruit of true knowledge of God is energy to pray for God’s cause – energy, indeed, which can only find an outlet and a relief of inner tension when channeled into such prayer – and the more knowledge, the more energy!