Knowing More About Jesus Is Not Good Enough - You Must Know Jesus

My Utmost For His Highest

He calls his own…by name… —John 10:3

{CHAMBERS} “It is possible to know all about doctrine and still not know Jesus. A person’s soul is in grave danger when the knowledge of doctrine surpasses Jesus, avoiding intimate touch with Him. Why was Mary weeping? Doctrine meant no more to her than the grass under her feet. In fact, any Pharisee could have made a fool of Mary doctrinally, but one thing they could never ridicule was the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her (see Luke 8:2); yet His blessings were nothing to her in comparison with knowing Jesus Himself. “…she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus….Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ ” (John 20:14, 16). Once He called Mary by her name, she immediately knew that she had a personal history with the One who spoke. “She turned and said to Him, ‘Rabboni!’ ” (John 20:16). When I have stubbornly doubted? (see John 20:24-29). Have I been doubting something about Jesus— maybe an experience to which others testify, but which I have not yet experienced? […] When I have selfishly denied Him? (see John 21:15-17). Peter denied Jesus Christ with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75), and yet after His resurrection Jesus appeared to Peter alone. […] Do I have a personal history with Jesus Christ? The one true sign of discipleship is intimate oneness with Him— a knowledge of Jesus that nothing can shake.”

{ELGIN}  Since you are reading this, you have some spiritual interest.  One thing about the Church in the U.S., we don’t lack for teaching, for the availability of “spiritual tools”.  There is little information about virtually anything spiritual that is not at your fingertips on the internet.  (1 Corinthians 8:1) “We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.”  Knowing a lot about something can puff you up, but love – Agape – the act of doing what we are knowing, builds up and fulfills our God-ordained purpose.  Jesus prayed that we would be “one” with Him even as He is one with the Father.  (John 17:20-23)  Think about that Christian!  Do you have that level of intimacy with Jesus?  With other Christians, even?  You don’t achieve it merely by reading devotional books or by listening to sermons, but by spending time with Jesus. Don’t minimize the importance of personal devotion time and depend on other people to speak to your heart when it should be the Spirit that is doing the speaking. Through reading the Word, meditating on it and prayer work on your relationship with your Lord.  That is the only way that you can become spiritually one with other Christians.  You are no part of a club merely sharing like interests.  You are part of the Body of Christ sharing the same Spirit and serving the same Lord.