Knowledge Versus Knowing

Knowledge versus Knowing

I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me.

“Let me tell you about my friend,” I said, launching into a description of Kendra—telling the room of women how Kendra became a foster, adoptive, and biological mother to five kids. I saw smiles from women who could relate to Kendra based on the information I was providing.

I paused before saying, “You all now know about Kendra through my eyes, through the carefully curated stories I have chosen to share with you, but you don’t know Kendra. At best, you’ve heard Julie’s version of Kendra. You are not in a personal relationship with her.” Allowing the silence to stretch, I quietly asked the million-dollar question: “Do you know about Jesus, or do you know Jesus?”

If your relationship with Jesus is based solely on third-party testimony (sermons, books, podcasts, Sunday school teachings), no matter how theologically sound the messenger is, you know about Jesus; you don’t know Jesus. Using third-party sources to learn more about Jesus is not a bad thing, but it can’t be your only thing.

Just as we build friendships over little intimacies, careful disclosures, and long conversations that slowly develop into a deeply trusted relationship, we build our relationship with Jesus, our Good Shepherd, in much the same way. We spend time reading Scripture—lingering especially over those red words found in the New Testament, asking Jesus to reveal how we are to pattern our lives by reading about his. We talk to him—out loud, in our thoughts, or a mix of both—as we go about our daily tasks, as we have quiet time, as we drive down the road. We worship him when we pause to acknowledge the wonder of his creation in a tiny snowflake and when we acknowledge his sovereignty through song.

If we are committed to being women who live their faith out loud, then third-party knowledge of Jesus will not be enough. We need to know the Good Shepherd with the intimacy we reserve for our closest relationships.

— Julie

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Set aside ten minutes for reading Scripture and ten minutes for talking out loud to Jesus—not in traditional prayer, but as you would talk to a trusted mentor.