Knowing About Jesus or Knowing Jesus?

 

Knowing About Jesus or Knowing Jesus?

In the The Gospel of Matthew Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes a sobering statement: not everyone who calls Him “Lord” truly belongs to Him. Some people know the right words, attend church, study the Bible, and even appear religious on the outside, yet their hearts remain distant from God. Jesus teaches that a real relationship with Him is shown through obedience, surrender, and a transformed life.

Knowledge of God is important. Scripture repeatedly calls us to learn truth and reject deception. But knowledge alone is not enough. A person can know Bible verses without allowing those verses to shape their character. They can understand doctrine without developing love, humility, forgiveness, or faithfulness. God never intended truth to remain only in our minds; He wants it to change our hearts and direct our lives.

Jesus is not looking for empty religion or outward performance. He desires a genuine relationship. When we truly know Him, our choices begin to change. We grow more compassionate, more obedient, more honest, and more dependent on Him. Our walk with God becomes more than information—it becomes transformation.

The warning in Matthew 7:21 is also an invitation. Christ invites us to move beyond merely knowing about Him and into daily fellowship with Him. The goal of Christianity is not simply to collect biblical facts but to become people who love God deeply and reflect His character in the world around us.

Today is a good time to ask: Has my knowledge of God changed the way I live? Am I growing closer to Jesus, or am I only familiar with Him? True faith is not just heard with the ears; it is lived with the heart.

Prayer:
Lord, help me not to settle for knowing about You while remaining distant from You. Let Your truth transform my heart, my actions, and my relationships. Teach me to walk closely with You each day and to do Your will with sincerity and love. Amen.

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This Quarter's Sabbath School Lessons Here: Growing in a Relationship with God