I know Tom Brady, QB of the NE Patriots. You’re right, I do
not really know him. He is not going
to call me to be his guest at the next game at Gillette Stadium, nor is he
coming to have dinner at my house anytime soon.
We are not friends or even acquaintances. I only know about him, what is published, what I see
when he plays football!
Here is a question for you today. Do you
know Jesus Christ or do you only know about Him?
The Lord of Glory can be known by us, loved, a Friend,
Someone with whom we have daily fellowship. Amazing, isn’t it, that God chooses
to make Himself known to us through the Spirit?
Sadly, so many who are part of Christian churches never really come to
know Jesus. They are content to know about Him, while others invest the time to
cultivate a friendship with Him. Jesus
says this to each of us - "Those
whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him,
and he with me." (Revelation 3:19-20, NIV) Pause to think about that offer. I am
acquainted with hundreds of people, have conversations every day with dozens of
them, but only a handful are close friends, intimately aware of who I am, what
I think, of the things I enjoy. Nothing illustrates that kind of ‘knowing’ like
sitting down to dinner and having 2 hours fly by as we converse. Jesus says
that He wants to know us like supper companion!
John, the apostle, also called the ‘Beloved,’ spoke often of
knowing Jesus. He records Jesus’ words from the Last Supper that are personal
and intimate. “If you love me, you will
obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another
Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept
him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives
with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to
you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.
Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in
my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and
obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my
Father, and I too will love him and show
myself to him.” (John 14:15-21, NIV)
We are given a Gift that makes that connection. The Holy
Spirit, the 3rd Person of the God-head, lives in us, leads us, teaches us, and we know Him, not just about Him! In
his letter to the Church, John says that we have an ‘anointing’ from the Holy
One. He explains that our knowing is
possible because of the work of the Spirit, that He is put on us, like oil
smeared on the head of one consecrated to holy service! As a result of that
anointing, we "know the truth." (1 John 2:20,
NIV)
As with any friendship, we must cultivate our friendship with Jesus Christ. A key, He says, is
obedience. We cannot claim to be intimately connected to Him and yet openly defy
the Father’s will. If we love Him, He says, we will do what He says. Beyond that obedience, there is priority. One
of the joys and demands of a friendship is time. I will prioritize my time so that I can be
with those I really love. How can we claim to love Jesus if we send little time
in worship or prayer?
Meditate on this word from the Word. If you only know about Jesus, invite Him to
become your God, your Savior, and your Friend. In Him, you will find a life
that is beyond comprehension of those who do not love and serve Him. “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When
you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the
harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing."
(John 15:5, The Message) “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved
me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain
intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands
and made myself at home in his love. “I’ve told you these things for a purpose:
that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature." (John
15:9-11, The Message)
_________
This is the hymn of my life …
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
What a friend we have
in Jesus
All our sins and
griefs to bear
What a privilege to
carry
Everything to God in
prayer
O what peace we often
forfeit
O what needless pain
we bear
All because we do not
carry
Everything to God in
prayer
Have we trials and
temptations
Is there trouble
anywhere
We should never be
discouraged
Take it to the Lord in
prayer
Can we find a friend
so faithful
Who will all our
sorrows share
Jesus knows our every
weakness
Take it to the Lord in
prayer
Are we weak and heavy
laden
Cumbered with a load
of care
Precious Savior still
our refuge
Take it to the Lord in
prayer
Do thy friends despise
forsake thee
Take it to the Lord in
prayer
In His arms He'll take
and shield thee
Thou wilt find a
solace there
Charles Crozat Converse | Joseph Medlicott Scriven
© Words: Public Domain
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