What comfort it brings my soul to realize that I am known. The Lord knows me. He knows every intricate detail about me, things I don’t even know about myself. Be assured that the Lord knows you too!
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27
In my heart of hearts I can honestly say I am one of His sheep. Knowing this, allows me to lean on the assurance found in these two verses in John chapter 10, that Christ knows me! That word “know” used in both of these verses is the same Greek word (ginosko), meaning to know through personal first hand experience. Christ is saying that He knows His sheep in a very personal first hand, face to face kind of way. He is not saying that He knows us from afar. So often I think of Christ that way, that He loves me from a distance. But that is not what this is saying here. He knows me, up close and personal in a face to face, hand in hand, heart to heart, an intimate relationship kind of way. What a comfort!
“But whoever loves God is known by God.” 1 Corinthians 8:3
And again, that’s me. I love God! So, therefore I can be assured that I am known by God. As in the last two verses, it is the same Greek word "ginosko". I am known in an up close and personal way. In a way that requires a first hand relationship.
“But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?” Galatians 4:9
Paul is correcting the church in Galatia for not keeping themselves free from the things in their old nature. Since I know God and He knows me (as Paul says here) I should desire to keep myself walking in righteousness. However, just like the Galatians, I too find myself “turning back” when I should be fixing my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:2 ASV). I find myself “enslaved” when I should be walking in freedom. Because whom the son sets free is free indeed (John 8:36). Paul also uses that same Greek word here we have been talking about for the word known.
I am known by Christ. Not in some small, superficial, surfacey kind of way. No, God knows me in a face to face, hand in hand, heart to heart, deep and intimate kind of way. In a way that I don’t even know myself, but I can trust that the one who created me and knows every minute detail about me will slowly but surely reveal to me just how fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) I really am. I thank God for the journey. Sometimes I wish He was quick to reveal His secret truths to my heart, but I somehow have a feeling that if He poured them out all at once instead of one by one, I would not be able to hold them all and most of them would fall through the cracks of my forgetfulness. So, in His amazing graciousness He slowly and methodically reveals one truth at a time so that each truth becomes part of my identity and I will no longer question who I am, but will rest in who's I am!
Call to action
Let’s write these verses on the walls of our hearts so that we can rehearse them in our moments of doubt. May we learn to rest in the assurance that our Heavenly Father knows each one of us so intimately and completely. Let’s take some time each day this week to rehearse Psalm 139:1, John 10:14-15 and John 10:27. May the Lord reveal to our hearts how intimately, passionately and deeply He knows each one of us this week.
For more encouragement read: You Are Royalty, Masterpiece (Part 2), You Have Purpose, Love Series
Heavenly Father, I thank you that you know us. Thank you for knowing us on the deepest level possible. Thank you for not being afraid of the secrets we keep hidden and locked away in the inmost parts of our hearts where no person could ever possibly visit if they tried. But you’ve been there and seen every hurt and scar and you’re not surprised by any of it. Thank you for knowing each one of us face to face and heart to heart. We pray that you help us to believe you when you tell us that you know us. Help us to write these verses on the walls of our hearts so that they can become part of our identity. We pray all these things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
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