I know you!

Master, I know you. (Matthew 25:24)

So said the evil servant in Jesus’ second parable. And yet, this servant didn’t know his master at all. His view of his master was totally distorted and so he really wanted nothing to do with him.

In the same way, many people today have a distorted view of God.

In particular, for many, they look at his commands, they look at his judgment of sin, and instead of saying God is good and just, they say, “If that’s the kind of God he is, I want nothing to do with him.”

There are also those who say they know God, but by their actions prove they don’t.

A person who truly knows God loves his people, and you see that in the parable of the sheep and the goats.

Jesus says when we bless his people, we bless him. (See also Matthew 10:40-42).

But when we ignore or mistreat them, we ignore or mistreat him. (See also Acts 9:4-5)

Perhaps John thought of Jesus’ parable as he wrote:

If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? (1 John 3:17)

Do we truly know God?

Do we truly believe he is good?

And do we love his people?

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:7-8)