J.I. Packer in Knowing God states: "Disregard the study of God... sentence yourself... no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you." You learn about God and what He expects of you by reading and meditating on the Bible. It is important to know that God is not limited to teaching you through the Bible.  He reveals Himself and truth in many different ways.  

Throughout the day, look for God's revelation of Himself and what He's teaching you. The earthly parallels you read here are examples. Jesus many times talked in parables using earthly truths to help people understand heavenly ones.  It is important to test what you believe you are learning against the Bible, which is the foundation for truth.

As you read God's Word and experience life, your primary focus should be to seek what you are learning about God and your relationship with Him, and what He expects out of you. Think in terms of getting to know God, not just learning what attributes He has. Consider that you would not describe a good friend or family member by only their attributes but more importantly who they are as a person.

A friend of yours introduces you to their friend. It is someone that you seem to connect with. In order to have a relationship, you would need to get to know that person.  That requires spending time with them. You could find out many things about them. (Birth city, age, favorite color, where they went to High School, favorite food, vacation spot, etc.)  You would learn a lot about them, but you would not know them. 

Knowing someone requires time with them. You would know them better when you observe how they respond to different situations. Similarly, you would not approach someone saying you would like to be friends and ask them to give you a list of what you need to do so you can be their friend. Rather by spending time together, mutually meeting each other's needs, this shows trustworthiness and your relationship will naturally develop. 

APPLYING THE PARALLEL:  Learning about God is very important. But it is not enough. One can know an abundance of information about God and have no relationship with Him. God reconciled man to God so we can have relationship with Him. In all aspects of your life, seek to know God in a way that improves your relationship with Him.

An example is that many times when we sin, we do not experience consequences. (Romans 2:4) says that "God's kindness leads you toward repentance." When you have done wrong and realize that God has shown you kindness in return, you learn the heart of God. That is just one of many ways we can learn more about God's heart.

Read through I John 1. Even if you do not learn anything new, write down 1) what can be learned about God, 2) What can be learned about your relationship with Him, and 3) what He expects out of you. As you read and study the Bible, keep looking for the answers to these three questions.

●    Think through some recent events.  Write down the same as above. What Bible verses confirm that what you believe you learned is true?

●    I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (Phil 3:10)

●    but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. (Jer 9:24)

●    Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

●     But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (II Peter 3:18)

or