To Know Him

Jeremiah 9:24 NLT But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things.

Have you ever been given the task of introducing yourself to a group of strangers without mentioning what you do for work, hobbies, or activities? The objective is to focus on who you are—your personality, character, what you love, what is important to you, and how you spend your time. It is not easy. We often find our identity in life’s activities and accomplishments, yet we desire to be loved and accepted for who we are, not what we have done. God is no different.

God desires that we know him, not for his achievements but for who he is. As Moses stood on Mount Sinai, receiving the law and Ten Commandments from God, he said to God “let me know your ways” (Exodus 33:13). What Moses was asking was show me your character, your plans, your habits. God’s response was to pass before him and proclaim, “The Lord, The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7). God didn’t call out an endless list of his accomplishments—creator of the world, deliverer of Israel, promise keeper—but instead named his character. He told us who he is—the great I AM.

What differentiates a follower from a disciple? A follower knows God by what he does; a disciple knows Him for who he is. A disciple has learned that asking ‘who’ is often far more important than asking ‘what’. They desire to know who God is, not just what he does. Psalms 103:7 tells us, “God made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.” The people of Israel knew well the powerful and awe-inspiring acts of God: the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, manna from heaven, and water from a rock. Yet despite these fantastic miracles, they shrank back at the opportunity to really know God. Moses spent time with God and knew him personally.

Jesus had large crowds of followers everywhere he went. They listened to him, were fed by him, and experienced miracles of healing and deliverance firsthand. Yet the same miracle-seeking crowds that cheered his entrance into Jerusalem also called for his crucifixion. His true disciples were awed by the miracles but also learned to focus on the person of Jesus. As Jesus and the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee, a great storm came up that threatened to sink their boat. In response to their cries for help, Jesus commanded the wind and the waves to cease with a simple “Peace be still." The disciples responded, “Who is this man who has authority over winds and waves?” They marveled at who he was more than what he had done.

When Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), it was a declaration of who He is in addition to what He does. Each of His ‘I Am’s’ is a declaration of his character, his nature, and his purpose: I Am the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Gate, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection, and the Life, the True Vine.

Many believe in Jesus for eternal life but fail to trust him for abundant life. They fail to know his character, his ways, his faithfulness, and his goodness. May we choose today to be more than followers, but to be true disciples. Seeking to know him for who he really is.

Psalm 86:15 TPT But Lord, your nurturing love is tender and gentle. You are slow to get angry yet so swift to show your faithful love. You are full of abounding grace and truth.

Psalms 24:8 TPT You ask, “Who is this King of Glory?” Yahweh, armed and ready for battle, Yahweh, invincible in every way!

Luke 14:25-27 NLT A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

Matthew 28:19 NLT Jesus came and told his disciples, I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

John 6:35 NIV Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 8:12 NIV When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.

John 10:11, 14-15 NIV I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.

John 10:7-10 TPT So Jesus went over it again, I speak to you eternal truth: I am the Gate for the flock. All those who broke in before me are thieves who came to steal, but the sheep never listened to them. I am the Gateway. To enter through me is to experience life, freedom, and satisfaction. A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect —life in its fullness until you overflow!

John 11:25-26 TPT Jesus said, I am the Resurrection, and I am Life Eternal. Anyone who clings to me in faith, even though he dies, will live forever. And the one who lives by believing in me will never die.

John 15:5 NLT I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

Psalm 103:8-11 NLT The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

Joel 2:13 NLT Tear your hearts instead of your clothing. Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.