It’s Not What You Know

Its not what you know, it’s who you know. Or rather, who knows YOU.

"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" Matthew 7:23 NKJV

This scripture rocks me because it follows someone doing great works in Jesus Name. And yet Jesus said, He didn’t know them.

Intimacy must be two way. We can read about someone in a book. We can hear all about them on social media, and the local gossip. Does that mean they know us? We may know facts about them for sure. May even feel like we know them, even though we have never met.

Intimacy requires levels of trust and vulnerability. When we walk in relationship, we must share who we are.

We understand theologically that God knows us, and yet here, in this context I believe Jesus says, be willing, come closer, be transformed into His likeness.

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

When we allow Him to come close, through trust and being open, we can allow His light to shine into the dark, hidden areas of our lives. We can expose the areas we don't want to reveal, even to our closest relationships on Earth.

Maybe you aren't aware of the flaws in your character. Only through His process of intimacy, by the fire that burns, purifies and brings the dross to the surface, are we made aware of the flaws. He knows the areas in our lives that block our intimacy and hinder our transformation.

He is patient and willing to walk through the process with you. Then your testimony can be, 'welcome into the Kingdom', rather than, 'depart from me'.

Jesus wants you to know YOU. He requires your trust and vulnerability, so that when He guides you and leads you into uncomfortable, uncharted territory, you don't rebel, pull away, or become lawless.

It’s difficult to face yourself in His mirror, and yet it’s necessary for intimacy. Allowing Him to know us is necessary.

For some it’s easier to rely on the works. We are rewarded for our works which are seen. We may be fulfilled doing the works, but Jesus isn't satisfied with just works. Our entrance into eternity is based on intimacy. Our rewards are based on works.

"Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3:8-11 NKJV

And that my friend is the goal! To obtain that resurrection. Let’s cheer one another on, praising our Father who is not willing that any should perish.