Knowing Christ

by Raymund Tamayo

 

11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:11-13 

Bible study will not give you eternal life. Going to church will not save you from sin. Doing good things will not get you to heaven. Only a personal relationship with Christ can accomplish all these things.

You could memorize the entire Bible and not miss any church activity all your life, and yet fail to experience the Scriptures' truths. Only receiving Christ in your life as your personal Lord and Savior will allow you to experience all of these.

Bible study, going to church, and doing good things are simply the result of a life in deep intimate relationship with God through Christ.

Sometimes there is a subtle temptation to prefer the Book over the Author, or the blessing over the Blessing Giver. Books and blessings cannot confront you about your sin, but the Author and Giver of the blessing will.

During Jesus' time, the Pharisees assumed God will be pleased by their intellectual knowledge of the Scriptures. They recited long and complicated passages in front of many, spending hours and neglecting all other works in their lives as a show of their "faithfulness" to God.

Yet Jesus condemned them because, although they knew the Scriptures, they did not know God. They were proud of their Bible knowledge, but they rejected the invitation to know God's Son.

It's one thing to know about the Bible or to go to church every Sunday, and another thing to know Christ personally and intimately. No amount of Christian activity can ever replace our relationship with Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul considered every "good" thing he had accomplished to be "rubbish" when you compare it to the "surpassing value of knowing Christ" (Philippians 3:8). 

Like him, we should never be satisfied with religious activity. But instead cultivate and continually grow our relationship with Jesus as best as we can.

I pray that, above all, we get to know Jesus deeper and more intimately as we read the Bible, fellowship with other believers, and do the good things God asked us to do during our short and temporary walk here on earth. God bless you all!