Knowing the Name by Dudley Hall

O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I have made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.  John 17:25-26 (ESV) 

The only person who really knows the true nature of God the Father is Jesus the Son. The world’s perspective cannot fathom even an approximation of him. But Jesus came to make him known to his own. He offers to his disciples the privilege of knowing the Father the way the Son does. That is an awesome thought.
  
Since Adam, mankind has been looking at God through the bushes of shame. We have speculated as to his desires and requirements. Some have tried to appease what they perceived to be an angry god. Some have tried to avoid him as an intrusive god. Some have tried to redefine him in their own image. Some have tried to convince themselves that he doesn’t exist, so they won’t have to deal with him at all. But Jesus came to reveal his true nature. He told Phillip that to see him is to see the Father.
  
Through faith in Jesus as the Son of God, we can actually know God as Father. We not only know the facts about him as recorded in Scripture, we know him in relationship and in ongoing progressive revelation. There is more treasure to discover in him than we have time in eternity. He is worthy of all our attention. He must not be added into our lives as an addendum.  He has given us himself, and he is as faithful to us in revealing the nature of the Father as he was to his original twelve.
  
Knowing Jesus will result in our being as confident in the love of the Father as he was. People who are confident in being loved are unconquerable and unstoppable. We need not spend another moment in trying to qualify for his love. Jesus has done that. We get what he deserves and can enjoy the fellowship now. We honor him by believing what he says and living in it. Let’s give him our trust.