“For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.” Act 17:23

The purpose of every believer is to know God. Jesus said, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).

Many of us worship God without truly knowing whom we worship. In Athens, Paul encountered an altar inscribed, “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD,” and declared to them the God whom they did not know (Acts 17:22–23).

We should therefore hunger and thirst to know Him, to seek Him, understand His ways, and walk in His truth. For it is through knowing God and keeping His commandments that we overcome the world: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world” (1 John 5:4).

He came to us, yet many did not recognize Him (John 1:10-11). He has ascended and has given us the Holy Spirit, yet we still do not know him. Jesus says “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27)

It is in knowing Him that we find true peace. As we abide in Him, His character is formed in us, the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22–23).

Do we truly know Him? Perhaps we know about Him, but have we truly become one with Him? Jesus prayed that His followers would be one with Him and the Father (John 17:20–23). Have we drawn deeply enough from Him to learn His love, patience, humility and kindness?

Paul introduced the Athenians to the God they worshipped without knowing. Today, may we also search for Him—not merely to know about Him, but to know Him intimately (Philippians 3:10)