The Difference in Knowing

Do you know who Meg Ryan is?  What can you tell me about her?  I can tell you she an actress. She’s famous.  She’s a mother and wife. She’s meet some very famous people.

Do you know who Barack Obama is?  What can you tell me about him?  Obviously, he’s the president of the United States.  He’s married to Michelle Obama.  He has two daughters and a dog. He lives in the White House. He’s a democrat.

Do you know who Beth Moore is?  What can you tell me about her?  She is a Bible Study teacher.  She lives in Texas. She’s married to Keith Moore and has two grown daughters, Amanda and Melissa. She has a grandson named Jackson. She loves women’s ministry. She loves to study God’s word. She travels extensively to speak. She runs Living Proof Ministry.  She loves Starbucks. For her birthday, her staff took her to a painting class.

Do you know who Carol is? What can you tell me about her? I can tell you she’s been married for 30 years. She and her husband were high school sweethearts.  She has two children who are both adults. She has three sisters. Her dad has passed away.  She loves pastel colors.  She knows every actor and actress on the planet and what they have played in. She teaches in Awana. She enjoys her church family.  She lived in Chicago as a child. She knows Orlando like the back of her hand.  She loves old movies.  She enjoys hot tea.  She enjoys people and loves to go out to eat.  She can talk for hours.

Now of all the people above which one do I really know?  I’ve never met or even seen Meg Ryan or President Obama in person.  I know who they are, but do I really know them? No, not really.

I have seen Beth Moore in person. I’ve watched her teach many times, but I’ve never shook her hand.  I know who she is, but do I really know her?  No, not really.

Which one do I sit and talk for hours with?  Which one has been in my home, hugged my neck, laughed and cried with me?  You guessed it! Carol.  She and I have been friends for many years.  I love her and trust her with my heart.  She’s a true friend. 

As I read John 15:1-17 thoughts of my relationship with Christ came to mind. Recently I read a statement in Lysa TurKeurst’s book, Becoming More than Just a Good Bible Study Girl  that I can’t get out of my head. It’s had a profound affected on me for weeks.  She says, “I want to see Him (Jesus) in me, around me, and through me. I want to hear His voice so clearly that I won’t doubt when He asks for my obedience. I want to know Him- not just facts about Him- but really know Him personally and intimately.”  I got to thinking about my relationship with Christ.  Do I know Him or do I just know facts about Him?  Do I know Him like I do Meg, President Obama or Beth?  Or do I know Him like I do Carol?

Psalms 46:10a tells me to “Be still and know that I am God...”  In Psalm 100:3a God instructs me to “Know ye that the LORD he is God...” God desires a close personal relationship with each of us.  One in which when He speaks to us, we will know it’s Him. One that allows us to talk to Him about anything. A relationship that craves daily communication.

Knowing just the facts about God and knowing Him are vastly different.  I like this quote by Tim Hansel. “There is a difference between memorizing Scripture and thinking biblically. There’s a difference between knowing the words and experiencing their meaning. There is a difference between having sentences embedded in your head and having their impact embedded in your heart. There is a difference between “doing Christianity” and being a Christian.” It’s my prayer that I will seek to “know God” in a deep and intimate way.