The God We Forgot to Know by Tina

Knowing God Beyond Religion

Many today unknowingly attribute the ways of the Devil to the ways of God. Satan has done his homework — his deception runs deep. But the issue isn’t about judging others rightly; it’s about knowing God. Everything else must fall by the wayside.There’s a profound difference between knowing about God and knowing Him. The New Testament makes that distinction often:

“This is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” — John 17:3

To claim Christ without relationship is like wearing a name tag that doesn’t belong to you. It’s not about moral superiority or exclusion — it’s about whether the heart has truly encountered grace. This is deeply personal. God is building a family. He adopts sinners who were once children born into sin, then purifies them through the refining fire of the Holy Spirit.Eventually, a true child of God begins to reflect His traits. Yet, because He has given us free will, we are still free to run away from home. But when you step into His house — believe and know — He will always do what is best for you. Sometimes that means not granting what He knows would destroy you. He doesn’t condemn; He heals. Your sin doesn’t intimidate Him. He is God.

Beyond Labels and Appearances

It doesn’t matter what anyone claims to be — Christian, Jewish, Muslim — what truly matters is knowing God. Until then, it’s difficult to see others for who they really are. Without truth, which is Christ, our point of reference becomes distorted.Whether someone behaves according to your expectations of their faith isn’t the ultimate measure — that’s between them and God.All these distractions — the gossip, the hypocrisy, the religious posturing — are calculated orchestrations by the Devil himself, designed so you never give God a second look. You might refuse to enter a church because “the people are hypocrites.” But God loves them too. That doesn’t mean every individual will enter Heaven — but His love remains steadfast, even for the hypocrite, the thief, and the devoted believer. God doesn’t play favorites. He waits for all.Remember, the Devil knew God. He knows His goodness.

So — know your enemy.

✨ From Performance to Presence

Religion says, “Do more to earn God’s favor.”

Relationship says, “Rest in what Christ has already done.”Pretending to be perfect may impress others, but it never brings peace to the soul. The beauty of true faith is that it frees us from performance. Grace invites us to stop acting and start abiding.Satan is transactional — he always demands something in return, often at a far greater cost. But God’s favor isn’t earned, and it isn’t manipulated. He already sees everything.

“Abide in Me, and I in you.” — John 15:4

The Christian life is not about impressing God with behavior, but inviting Him to transform the heart.

🌸 A Personal Invitation

If Christianity has ever felt distant or hollow — like a set of rules rather than a relationship — you’re not alone. Many have inherited religion without ever encountering the Person behind it.The good news is that the door to knowing God has never been closed. It isn’t guarded by the self-righteous or reserved for the holy; it’s open to anyone tired of pretending and ready to be real.Jesus didn’t come to make you more religious — He came to make you alive.We must rise above the gossip, tear off the labels, and lift our eyes to Heaven. This story is far bigger than us.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” — Revelation 3:20

🌿 Closing Thought

Being a Christian isn’t about belonging to a club — it’s about belonging to Christ. It’s not defined by what you do for God, but by what God has done for you.So if you’ve ever felt like an outsider to faith — like a foster child who’s never known the Father’s embrace — know this: you have not been forgotten. You are being invited home.Yes, a person may attend church, use Christian language, and even do good things — but unless they’ve experienced the inner rebirth Jesus spoke of (“You must be born again” — John 3:7), their faith is cultural, not relational.But here’s where gentleness matters: many who don’t yet know God personally aren’t pretending — they simply haven’t been introduced to Him beyond religion. The goal isn’t to shame, but to invite.

“You were made for more than belonging to a system — you were made for belonging to Someone.”

He’s waiting for you. 🌹