September 10 - Now They Know

John 17:6-9

Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. (John 17:7 ESV)

Jesus lived out a life of demonstrative teaching. Everything he did and said was an intentional part of his leading and guiding his followers into a closer relationship with him. All of it was designed to draw them closer to Christ and closer to the Father.

I think a good question we can ask ourselves is "what do people know about God by looking at my life?" The possible answers to that question say a lot about how we are going through this life. It says a lot about how we are communicating Christ to those around us.

Jesus wants you and I to be his messenger. As the disciples learned to look to the Father through the Son, so will people look to the Son through those he has saved. So, think about the people in your life. Because of you, what do they now know?

June 18 - I Do Know

Read: John 9: 24-27

He answered, "Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." (John 9:25 ESV)

The Pharisees were constantly questioning the integrity of Jesus because of the company he kept. In their inflated opinions he was a sinner because he didn't follow all of their silly rules. As they grilled the former blind man about his miraculous healing they approached the questioning with a different tactic surrounding his holiness.

The once blind guy's response is great. He stated flat out that he didn't know the spiritual condition of Christ, but that he did know for certain that he used to be blind and was now able to see. For too long I feel Christians have made bold claims about things we don't really know much (or anything) about. The testimony of Jesus is firmly rooted in the truth of what we do know.

Where do we find ourselves in this story? If it were a reselling of our experience with Jesus who would we be? Are we the blind man who's life was irrevocably altered for the good? Or, are we the Pharisees staring at an obvious work of God, but not seeing it for the truth because it didn't happen according to our religious superstitions?

There are a lot of things that I don't know about Jesus. I do know that since I pledged my life to serve him in active vocational ministry it has been an awesome experience.

I Know Him

When I close my eyes I can see my son's face. The dimples. The smile. I can hear his precious little giggle, and the way he flaps his arms when he gets excited. I can remember the soft feel of his skin when he throws his arms around my neck for a hug or reaches out his tiny hand to grab mine. He is my son. I know him. I am wonderfully blessed to be able to work in a career that affords me a generous amount of time with him every day. I relish every precious moment of it. At this point in his young life, I know everything there is to know about him.

I've spent a lot of time in ministry teaching, preaching, and training people to join their heart to their mind in "knowing God". Something I've spent much less time thinking about is how well He already knows me. My needs, my laugh, my idiosyncrasies, and guffaws. He knows all that could, would, or ever will be known about me.

For some that line of thought may be potentially terrifying. I find it gloriously freeing. We spend so much time in this life playing to the mob, trying to appease the expectations of those around us, fearful that they may discover us for the phonies that we are.

How amazing that God, who knows me, died for me, not just in spite of myself, but to bring me around to an altogether different destiny. I am His. He knows me.