DEVOTIONAL SERIES ON LOVE (part-39)

WHO DO YOU KNOW…REALLY KNOW?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“I am the good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep
know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the
Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
(John 10:14-15)

MEDITATION:
Do you know the Lord?
The question isn’t,
    “Do you know Who He is?”
The question isn’t,
    “Do you know that He is God’s Son and was born in a manger?”
The question isn’t,
    “Do you know that He preached the good news, healed
      the sick and even restored life of someone who had died?”
The question isn’t,
    “Do you know what He did for mankind?”
The question isn’t,
    “Do you know that He was crucified
      and resurrected to be with His Father?”

Although these are good things to know,
the question asked is still the same,
    “Do you KNOW the Lord?”

Most of us know about the Lord, but that is quite different from
knowing the Lord. Unless He is revealed to us through a personal
experience, we don’t really know the Lord. And unless we nurture
our relationship with Him, we will fail to grow in our knowledge
of Him.

We learn a lot about Him at church through Sunday school, youth
activities, worship services, fellowship with other believers, etc. But
for many, getting to know the Lord stops at this point. We can be
introduced to someone, but that’s totally different than knowing
him or her personally, isn’t it?

When we really know someone, we learn to appreciate their qualities.
We develop a better understanding of why they do the things they do.
We enjoy our relationship with them, and we look forward to spending
time with him or her.

We have a desire to nurture our fellowship with them so we will grow
closer to each other. When we spend quality time with them, we learn
more about their characteristics (including the things they like and dislike).
We can sense the sincerity of their love for us, and others. We know how
much they care about us, and others.

We develop a greater love for them and we have confidence in their
dependability. As we grow closer to them, we have a desire to know
even more about them. We value their advice, and we learn how much
they can be trusted. Trusting them means we are comfortable talking
to them openly and honestly about anything.

Jesus Christ (our Lord and Savior) is who we need to first know about,
and then to KNOW. He is the One we need to be infused into our own
personal lives. As we know Him better, it becomes much easier for us
to develop His characteristics in our own lives.

We also learn about the value of what He did for us on the cross.
In addition, the more we know Him, the more we can appreciate
and sense His presence in our daily lives. Knowing Jesus intimately
can inspire us to love and thank Him even more for His love for us
and the sacrifice He made for our sins, so we could belong to God.

He has a message for those who don’t really know Him.
Then I will tell them plainly,
    “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
    (Matthew 7:23)

ACTION:
Answer the following questions:
    – Do I know the Lord, or do I just know about Him.
    – Do I have a desire to spend time getting to know
        Him better on a daily basis, or only once a week?
    – Does He influence the things I do and the decisions I make each day?
    – Have I learned to appreciate and love Him more every day?
    – How do I show that I really know Him, and appreciate His love for me?
    – Is He the top priority in my life (in everything I think, do, and say)?
    – What changes should I make to know Him better
        and to become more intimate in my relationship with Him?

Pray,
“Lord, You are indeed, the good Shepherd, who loves me
and wants to help me with all things. Help me to love You
more, and to grow closer to You, so I can be confident that
I do know You, and that You know me. Transform my life
so I can live in a way that is more pleasing to You. Teach
me how to develop Your characteristics in my own life.
Thank You for what You did for me on the cross, for how
you love me, and for how You pray for me to our Father.
I am nothing without You, but with You (and knowing You),
I can become everything that is good and pleasing to You
and to our Heavenly Father.”

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