…which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 2 Timothy 1:12
The older I get …the less I know. What I do know… is that Christianity isn’t a …religion. It isn’t a denomination. It isn’t a doctrine. It isn’t a philosophy. It isn’t a book. I’ve come to realize it isn’t what I know …but Whom. I use to need to know ‘why’ for most of my life. Now I just know it is only about one thing …knowing Him … intimately, personally, deeply, humbly.
When you begin to know Jesus … things seem so simple, honest, beautiful, and loving. Then as you grow the enemy comes to make you question everything you think you know. But you see all you need to know is … Him. It isn’t about information… it is about relationship. Does a child need to know everything about their … mom? Or do they just know she is their mom? I can read a biography … but does that mean I really know that person? I may know a lot of information about the person by reading their biography and it might all be entirely true, but it is an entirely different thing to sit down and actually talk with the person, day after day.
This letter to Timothy was at the very end of Paul’s ministry and life. What had Paul learned through all the trials, beatings, suffering, and imprisonments? Years of persecution didn’t make him bitter …it made him better. He learned Who real joy is. Knowing the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ would never be able to carry him through all that hardship. Paul KNEW Jesus. Paul was TOTALLY convinced Jesus could and WOULD carry him through to his end. Do you know Jesus that way?
Do you spend the day together? Do you carry on and on in conversations? Do you ask Him questions? Does He ask you questions? Does the truth He speaks to you … literally stop you in your tracks? Oh… He can touch you like no one else can. His touch …because He is your Creator, goes to the place in you NO ONE else can touch. His Truth continues to expand within you the moment it is planted. Do you ‘water’ and take care of those ‘truth(s)’? Do you ask Him to explain those truths? Do you ponder the relationship you have with Him?
When should you be meeting with Jesus? Um… now? Always. This is done through the Holy Spirit Who He sent to come to indwell you … completely and deeply. Like after any real long-lasting relationship you can recognize your friend’s voice without even ‘seeing’ them. Can you recognize His voice now within you? This ability comes as you listen to Him after all the meetings you have with Him. Paul says to pray unceasingly. Basically, to me that means just keep talking to Him … always, throughout your day. And do you stop long enough to listen to Him? Or is your prayer only a …monologue? It needs to be a dialogue… with Him. Maybe He’ll take you to scripture to show you a story or three to help you understand. His Rhema Word to you personally… touches you and emboldens you with His faith.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the (Rhema) word of Christ. Romans 10:17
Know Him.