Good morning,
Knowing Him or knowing about him?
One of the most challenging parts of calling ourselves Christians is understanding if we people who are trusting Jesus based on what we know about him or if we actually have come to the point of knowing Him. At this point in history we are flooded with information from all sorts of media that is bent in telling us what they want us to believe about a person or situation from their point of view. Since all of us are born sinners so long as we are in this world, we will find ourselves believing the information we are given from gifted liars as believable truth. So when we read the Bible for ourselves, will we naturally come to the right conclusions as to what God is telling us by the words he has given us? When we are told to trust in Jesus, have we ever seen him? Have we ever heard him ourselves? Have we ever spent our time with him? Since most of the information that we get from other people or the twisted lies that come from the Devil, why should we ever believe Jesus can be trusted? Peter brings up this question when he wrote, You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.(1Pet.1:8) What Peter wrote gives us the key to understanding the difference between being a religious christian and a genuine born again child of God. The religious christians spend their time finding leaders who will tell them what they want to hear, spends little time reading the Bible and then they ignore everything that is hard or painful our not approved by their culture. To them, Jesus is only important if things get out of their control.
What Peter pointed out was the difference that happens when we go from knowing about Jesus to actually knowing him. When we give our heart to our Savior and Lord our mind and heart change to, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reality of being born again is that we find ourselves involved in a spiritual battle against us by the world, the flesh and the devil. As we begin to face the reality of living our lives based on the guidelines of our Lord and Shepherd, we find out that Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.(Psa.138:7) We will also find ourselves living out the promise that the Jesus gave us “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid.(John14:27) The longer we know our Savior and the more challenging life becomes, Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.(Eph.3:17) Even when it seems that we are totally overwhelmed by our circumstances we are able to say with Job “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.(Job19:25) Even if it seems that our time on earth is over we can again say like Job, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:(13:15) One more joyful promise that the Lord has made us has to do with the reality that none of Jesus’ followers on earth are perfect like he was when he was here on earth as one of us.The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.(Psa37:23,24) Dear Lord, help us to really know you instead of just being content with just knowing about you.
1 Peter 1:8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
Roy Wisner
