April 26th

April 26th

Many people say they know God loves them. That may be true, they may know that in their head but do they have heart knowledge? Our spiritual life is meant to be experienced, not just known.

It is not about information; it is about relationship. I don’t have to tell you that one of the great downfalls of social media and technology is the injury to relationships. We can scroll all day long and absorb all kinds of information (good and bad, true and false, and exaggerated) and never really connect with anyone. On top of being careful about what we hear on TV, we now have to be careful about what we read on line as well. We have to be careful not to treat our spiritual life the same way. Watching sermons or reading blogs is fine but it all has to be measured against the Word of God.

When we read the Bible, are we treating it like we do everything else we read online? Are we hesitant to take it to heart or do we trust it as TRUTH? Many people read their Bible on their phones or tablets only and don’t own a paper copy. There is nothing wrong with it on occasion, but there are many values to having a paper copy. One of the advantages is that if you read the paper copy, your brain will automatically treat it differently than anything you read on your phone. You will also get to know the location (the address, so to speak) of verses much better in a physical copy.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

As important as it is for us to know the word of God, it is also important for us to know the Word of God. In John chapter 1 Jesus is referred to as the Word. So, in addition to learning the verses in our Bibles, we need to learn them in our heart and get to know the author of those verses.

John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

So getting to know Jesus is to experience a relationship with Him, not just know about Him.

As you evaluate your spiritual life, there is just one question to answer.

Do you experience God’s love, presence and power? (Or do you just know ABOUT it)

Ephesians 1:17-21 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

You want to really know Jesus? Talk to Him about it!

Ephesians 3:16-19 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Jesus, thank you for loving me and wanting a real personal relationship with me. I want to really know you. Help me to learn how to spend time with you and get to know you instead of just knowing about you. I want to experience your presence, power and love in my life. Guide me to the right passages in your Word and help me to see how they apply to my life and my relationship with you and others. Thank you Jesus for your perfect love and your patience with me.

Jeremiah 29:12-13 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.