"Do You Really Know Jesus or Just Know Of Him"

July 14, 2022 | By Chuck

 We all know many people that we don’t actually know. What I mean is we know of people that we’ve never actually met. We can know of people but not know them. Think about your favorite singer, actor, or athlete. You certainly know about them and even their professional accomplishments, but you’ve never had a conversation with them because you don’t actually know them. There is a difference in knowing of someone and actually knowing someone. I have knowledge of the existence of many people that I don’t personally know.
     My question is do you really know Jesus or just know of Him? It’s one thing to know of Jesus and that He exists but another thing to really know Him. I’m convinced that Christianity is about truly knowing Jesus. It’s about having a close intimate relationship with the One who died for us. Knowing Jesus is more than showing up on Sunday and singing a few songs and returning Wednesday evening for Bible class. Knowing Jesus means spending time with Him. When you really know someone, you talk to them and listen to them. Quiet time in prayer with Jesus and in His Word is essential if you want to know Him.
     There are plenty of people who know of Jesus but don’t really know Him. What about you? Do you really know Jesus or just know of Him? “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23).