What does it mean to know Jesus?
When we think of the word “know,” we often think about knowledge: something intellectual. We can know a series of memorized facts, but winning a Jesus-themed trivia night doesn’t mean you know Jesus. Neither does acing a “Life of Jesus” pop quiz or clearing the “Jesus” category on Jeopardy.
[inlinetweet prefix=”null” tweeter=”powertochange” suffix=”#knowingJesuschanges”]Knowing Jesus isn’t about facts at all. It’s about relationship.[/inlinetweet]
To know Jesus is to live in relationship with Him. It’s like how you know a dear friend: deeply, personally, intimately. You may know a lot about your friends, but it’s more important to be close to them.
Knowing Jesus is vitally important. Jesus himself said, “This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”1
This means that knowing God and knowing Jesus isn’t just the path to eternal life; it is eternal life. Living in relationship with Jesus is life, and life to the full.2
Eternal life doesn’t start after death. It starts right now. Knowing Jesus cannot possibly leave your life unchanged. That change may take time or it may be immediate, but knowing Jesus will change you.
So take a moment. Think about it. What has knowing Jesus changed in your life?
If you had to fill in this blank — “Knowing Jesus changes ” — what would you say?
Has knowing Jesus changed how you treat your friends? Your family? Your enemies? Has knowing Jesus changed how you approach your job? Your free time? Your money?
For the apostle Paul, knowing Jesus changed everything. All that he valued before he knew Jesus — status, power, zeal, righteousness according to the law — became worthless. “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,” Paul said in his letter to the Philippians.3
Change came quickly for Paul, who had a literally blinding moment of revelation,4 but sometimes change takes time. But the more you know Jesus — by praying, reading His word and following His ways — the more you will experience His power to change. And knowing Jesus will change more than just your life. It will change the lives of those around you: your community, city, nation and world.
Take action:
1. Pray. A relationship requires communication and that’s what prayer is: communication with God. Talk to God about the struggles you are facing and pray that He will continue to change your heart. If you don’t know Jesus yet, but want to know Him, you can pray the prayer on this page and get connected with Christians who can help you grow to know Him.
2. Tell the story of how knowing Jesus changed your life to someone who doesn’t know Jesus. Unsure where to start? Read this article from thelife.com or get training from mystory.me.
3. Share how knowing Jesus has changed your life on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #knowingJesuschanges.
4. Come see us at our booth at Break Forth Canada in Edmonton or at Missions Fest in Vancouver from January 27-29 to see how you can partner with our ministries to help people know Jesus and experience His power to change the world.
- John 17:3
- John 10:10
- Philippians 3:8
- Acts 9
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