Knowing Him, Not About Him

Friday - January 28th

Scripture to Read Today: Ephesians 1:15-23

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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.

Ephesians 1:17

Victor and Vicky attended the same high school and were both seniors. Victor had wanted to ask her out on a date since they were in the same algebra class as freshmen. But their paths had rarely crossed at all in the school years since algebra. One day, he passed her in the hallway and decided to ask her out.

Friday came, and they had their big date. They said very little since they had nothing and no one in common. They went to McDonald's for dinner and then a movie. After Victor dropped Vicky off at her house, she ran to her mother and declared that she knew he was "the one." He told his parents the same thing when he got home. He knew that Vicky was "the one."

Instead of calling, texting, or taking her on another date, he went out and bought the biggest notebook he could find. Victor then spent the last four months of their final high school year learning everything he could about Vicky. He asked her friends, parents, and neighbors what she was like. Victor sought to know her favorite foods, movies, hobbies, etc. He wanted to know what made Vicky laugh and what moved her heart. Victor filled four notebooks about Vicky.

The day after graduation, he showed up at her door. Remember, they had not spoken, texted, or interacted since their one and only date four months earlier. When Vicky opened the door, Victor got on one knee and said, "Vicky, I love you! Will you marry me?"

Do you think "Yes" should have been her answer? If you do, you have a lot to learn about good relationships that lead to great marriages. Even if Vicki spent four months filling giant notebooks of information about Victor, they should not be married. Why?

They might know a lot about each other, but they would not know each other!

Many Christians think a vibrant relationship with God involves gaining a lot of information about Him or being an expert in what He says in His Word. Too many who call themselves followers of Christ know a lot about God but do not know God. They have gathered knowledge about Him without really knowing Him.

Paul says how he prays for the believers at Ephesus in his letter to them; he prays that they would "know God better" (Ephesians 1:17). Paul's word "know" in the original Greek means "to know personally through an experience with another." He did not choose a word for "know" that he often used that meant "to know information about." Paul wanted the believers at Ephesus to know God in a deep and personal way, not just about Him.

We get to know God as we read what He says to us in His Word, talk to Him in prayer, and let other believers speak into our lives. We get to know Him as we walk with and serve Him daily. Yes, it involves gaining information about God, but it does not stop there. It goes beyond knowing facts. It is part of our journey of growing and thriving in Him.

Do you know a lot about God, or do you know God? Today, spend some time sorting out whether you are gaining more facts about Him or are going deeper with Him.

As you walk with Christ, seek to know HIM, not ABOUT Him!