WHO DO YOU KNOW AND WHO KNOWS YOU?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”
(John 10:14)

MEDITATION:
On our journey through life we will cross paths with some people who
are considered good and others who are considered bad. A lot of people
choose to avoid the bad people and gravitate toward the good ones. Why
is that?

It could be because they know we are influenced by those we associate
with the most. We can be influenced by either the bad or the good; it
depends on how much time we spend with each one. Our choices are
driven by our level of commitment in what we seek for ourselves and
the type of person we truly want to be, right?

We have heard that one bad apple can spoil the bushel. Take a basket
of good apples and place a rotten one with them. After a while, the good
apples will become rotten as well. Now take a basket of rotten apples and
place a good one with them. The rotten apples don’t become good, do they?

It’s the same way in life – good seldom influences the bad, but the bad often
influences the good. This is why we should spend more time with those who
are good. Our spiritual life has the same challenge. However, Jesus has told
us that He is the “good” shepherd.

That means we should spend a lot of time with Him if we expect to be the
good person He wants us to be, doesn’t it? Spending time with the Lord
means we get to know Him and He can have a positive impact on our lives,
because He is good.

Unless the Lord is revealed to us through a personal experience, we may
never really know Him as we should. Many of us ‘know about’ Him, but
it’s not the same as ‘knowing’ Him, is it? We can learn more about the
Lord through bible study, church worship, and many other activities we
have at our church. However, some people stop at this point in their quest
to know the Lord. They get introduced to Him but fail to get to know Him
personally.

Unfortunately, some who have spent time at the church in their efforts to
know Him better, suddenly stop attending any church activities. Does that
mean they feel they know Him as well as they should? If so, they are wrong.
Have they become bored and lost interest? If so, then what happened?

Have they allowed the things of the world to replace their efforts to know
Him better? Whatever the reasons, there has been a major drop in church
attendance and sadly the ones dropping out are those who claimed to have
committed their lives to following Jesus.

ACTION:
Questions to consider:
    – How well do I know the Lord?
    – Am I striving to know Him better every day?
    – How does my church attendance today compare with
       my attendance when I first surrendered my life to the Lord?
    – Have I allowed others to influence my life in such a way
       that it has caused me to replace spending time with Him
       with other worldly things?
    – If my life ended today and I was standing face to face with the
       Lord, could I say that I ‘know’ Him, or just ‘know about’ Him?
    – Am I spending less time with Him today than when I first
       committed to being a follower of Jesus? If so, then what
       do I plan to do about it?

Knowing about the Lord is good, but knowing Him is critical for us
if we expect to spend eternity with Him. Knowing about the Lord
is the beginning of our opportunity to know Him and to activate
His will into our own lives.

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the
fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
(Matthew 7:18-19)

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom
of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in
heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy in Your name and in Your name drive out demons and in
Your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly,
‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
(Matthew 7:21-23)

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them
into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The
rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against
that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them
into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain
came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that
house, and it fell with a great crash.”
(Matthew 7:24-27)

He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the
eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value
highly is detestable in God’s sight.
(Luke 16:15)

And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified concerning Me.
You have never heard His voice nor seen His form, nor does His
word dwell in you, for you do not believe the One He sent. You
study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you
have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about
Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.
(John 5:37-40)

“Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am,
and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because Uou loved
Me before the creation of the world. “Righteous Father, though the
world does not know You, I know You, and they know that You have
sent Me. I have made You known to them, and will continue to make
You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them
and that I myself may be in them.”
(John 17:24-26)

“All things have been committed to Me by My Father. No one knows
who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father
is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”
(Luke 10:22)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, You are the Good Shepherd that I sought when I was
lost and doomed to total condemnation. However, as the Good Shepherd,
You pierced my heart and showed me that I did not have to remain in my
condition. You taught me about how You made the ultimate sacrifice for
me out of Your love for mankind. Your sacrifice paved the way for me to
avoid an eternal death and separation from You. Forgive me if I have
allowed other things to replace the time I should be spending with You.
Convict me of the times I have neglected You and renew my enthusiasm
to spend more time with You now than when You first saved me. I have
a desire to know You better and I know it will not happen if I fail to spend
more time with You. Thank You for loving me, and help me to love You more
than I do the things of the world.”

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