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I want to know Jesus more!
Published: 2024
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Day 1 I Want to Know Him More
Back in the early 1980s, Steve Fry penned this chorus which was made popular by musician Steve Green:
Oh, I want to know You more!
Deep within my soul I want to know You,
Oh, I want to know You.
To feel Your heart and know Your mind,
Looking in Your eyes stirs up within me,
Cries that says I want to know You
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more.
The song concludes with this phrase:
And I would give my final breath
To know You in Your death and resurrection
Oh I want to know You more
This declaration should be the cry of each of our hearts toward Jesus: “Oh, I want to know you more!”
Welcome, officially, to the 30 Day Adventure to Know Jesus More.
Over these next 30 days, we will intentionally draw near to God and discover the delight of knowing Him (see James 4:8 and Philippians 3:10).
The Promise
Hebrews 11:6 provides a fantastic promise for us to embrace during this 30-day adventure (and for the rest of our lives): “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (NKJV).
Did you catch the promise?
God is a rewarder … of those who diligently seek Him.
And more amazingly, the reward we get is not riches or fame, but the very thing we seek. Our reward is God Himself. We seek Him and He gives us Himself.
So that is what we will do—diligently seek after God and find Him a rewarder. Our goal is not to get something from God but to know Him more.
Knowing Him
One of my favorite words in Greek is γινώσκω (ginōskō). This word shows up all over the New Testament, and its emphasis is typically on knowing something through experience, relationship, or intimacy. If you want to know something academically, there’s a different word for that. But this word is different; it bespeaks of experiential and depth of knowledge.
In describing what eternal life is, Jesus said in John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they may know [ginōskō] You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
Having eternal life is not about knowing information about Jesus or passing a true/false test, but about actually knowing (ginōskō) God—it is having a relationship with Him and experiencing His life.
While academic knowledge isn’t bad, it won’t save you.
James reminds us that “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder” (James 2:19). Head knowledge is important, but it won’t get you into heaven.
What saves us? It is only through believing and putting our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. But more than a mental belief, salvation comes down to relationship.
In a rather scary passage of Scripture, Jesus talks with a group of people who went to church and did a bunch of impressive religious activities … but in the end, His statement to them was, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23). The word “knew” in the passage is ginōskō. Here was a group of religious people whose lives were full of religious activities, but despite their actions, they did not have a relationship with Jesus, so they were cast out.
The Adventure
The next 30 days is not about attempting to fit in another religious activity or duty. Our desire throughout the entire “adventure” is to keep our focus steadfast upon Jesus and deepen our intimacy with Him. While there will be things to do and study, the emphasis is to know (ginōskō) Jesus more by spending time with Him (not filling your schedule with more activities). This is about being WITH God, not doing things FOR Him.
One of the greatest challenges I’ve faced in life and ministry is guarding my intimacy with Jesus and not excusing it to do ministry for Jesus. And I’ve found there is a vast difference between the two.
I encourage you to rise up afresh today and say, “Jesus, I want to know you more. Deep within my soul I want to know You. Oh, I want to know You more!”
The Next 30 Days
As you journey throughout this thirty-day adventure, you will have something to read and often something practical to do. But again, this is less about things to “do” and more about giving you ideas of how you can “be” with Jesus.
Are you ready?
These next 30 days have the potential to radically change your life and deepen your intimacy with Jesus—not because of anything I write, but because you are intentionally taking time these next 30 days to pursue Him. And remember, He is a rewarder of those who do that.
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