We long to know Jesus better. Paul says, “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…” (Phil 3:10). God says, “Draw near to me and I will draw near to you” (Jas 4:8). How can we draw near to our precious Lord?
1. Come with total surrender to Christ’s love. This is another way of expressing true faith in Christ. Faith is a radical surrender of all you are and all you have to the love of Christ. This is the first baby step. Faith is not a work. You simply give your life unconditionally to God to love you. Do that now.
2. Come to God’s Word hungry. God is ready to satisfy you and renew your mind. Psalm 1:2-3 says growth comes through the slow meditation and consideration of God’s Word. The Bible is a book of God’s love on every page (that’s why it’s called ‘good news’). Experiencing God’s love is the key to joy and growth. Take it slowly. You are probably more wounded than you care to admit. You can’t feed a steak to a person in the ICU. Let God heal you through knowing Christ.
3. Come to Jesus needy. Remember intimacy is more than knowledge. There are many who “worship what they do not know” (Jn 4:22). Never in the history of the Christian church has so much theological knowledge been available to so many people as it is today. You can have an encyclopedic knowledge of Scripture and miss Jesus (Jn 5:39–40). Biblical knowledge that drives us to trust in Christ is better than the finest gold (Ps 19:10). Knowing Christ better means being vulnerable, humble and honest when we come to the Word. Assume you are not righteous in yourself. Come in need of the Physician to heal you.
4. Find his wholeness in your brokenness. Every kind of brokenness you experience can lead to a corresponding blessing if you’re willing to die to your own: will, goals, dreams, desires, expectations, plans, rights, and reputation. If you choose to die to yourself, God will pour out blessings like a character that reflects His own, a witness that leads to other people’s lives being transformed, and rewards from God himself.
5. Find his nearness in your loneliness. No one understands your struggles more than Jesus. He “tasted death for every man” (Heb 2:9). This is the ultimate expression of love. Jesus gave all that he had (which is everything) to know you intimately.
6. Come ready for radical sacrifice. Knowing such a loving Savior demands sacrifice. All should know his love. All should be sacrificed so that the whole world may know. Sacrifice all for knowing him and sharing him with others.
7. Come ready for joyful holiness. Knowing Christ means union with him in death and resurrection. You have to die to anything that is unholy. God’s glory is pure, sincere, good, and holy. It is love and kindness. It is totally selfless. Holiness is doing everything for the glory of God. You are chosen, separated and called for the God’s glory. Cut off all that does not honor him.
8. Stand for Christ, and stand alone if you must. Be willing to stand out and speak up for Jesus in all areas of your life, and with whoever you meet. Take a strong public stand for the uniqueness of who Jesus is; for the truth of the entire Bible; and for the necessity of living a life of integrity, purity, and humility in order to please God.
9. Seek him, find him, and praise him for answered prayer (Mt 7:7). We serve a God who moves mountains. Our great God woke up balancing the 200 billion galaxies that contain 200 million stars each. That’s just an estimate. He did that before you ate breakfast. Praise him! Watch him work. He has unlimited resources.
10. Live moment by moment, looking to Jesus. Bring Jesus home. Don’t just be a Sunday Christian. Don’t just be a Christian when you are in public or in church. Live honorably and walk humbly at home. Lay your life down for those closest to you at home first. Live a life of integrity in your private life. Let Jesus by his Spirit fill you in your free hours.
Jesus stand ready to help you come closer. He says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Mt 11:28-30).