Does He Know Me When

Does He know me? (Chambers 8/16; for Wednesday, 8/18/21)

Exodus 33:17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. (also in V,12)

He calleth … by name. John 10:3.

Does God know me:

1. When I have sadly misunderstood Him?

a. John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

HE didn’t say, HEY! Don’t touch me! Mary didn’t misunderstand what the Lord said here, but she did misunderstand what He had said earlier. He had told them all these things would take place.

[Mark 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.]

It is possible to know all about doctrine and yet not know Jesus. The soul is in danger when knowledge of doctrine out steps intimate touch with Jesus.

· Ecclesiastes 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

· Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Why was Mary weeping? (V.11)

Doctrine was no more to Mary than the grass under her feet. Any Pharisee could have made a fool of Mary doctrinally, but one thing they could not ridicule out of her was the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her; yet His blessings were nothing in comparison to Himself. Mary “saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus …”; immediately she heard the voice, she knew she had a past history with the One who spoke. “Master!”

[She knew there was a relationship; she wept because she thought it was over. She wept because she supposed that they / someone had taken the body of Jesus away and her heart longed to minister to Him.

People can take a lot from you but, they cannot take your testimony of what you know the Lord has done.]

Does God know me:

2. When I have, stubbornly doubted Him? [Thomas had missed the one service where the resurrected Saviour had showed up and now he was destined to live in doubt of what the others knew to be true.]

a. John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

Have I been doubting something about Jesus—an experience to which others testify but which I have not had? The other disciples told Thomas that they had seen Jesus, but Thomas doubted—“Except I shall see …, I will not believe.” (V.25) Thomas needed the personal touch of Jesus. When His touches come, or how they come, we do not know; but when they do come, they are indescribably precious. “My Lord and my God!”

[If you prayerfully seek Him, you will find Him.]

Does God know me:

3. When I have, selfishly denied Him?

a. John 21:15–17 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Peter had denied Jesus Christ with oaths and curses, and yet after the Resurrection Jesus appeared to Peter alone. He restored him in private, then He restored him before the others. “Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee.”

[The answer to all these questions is YES! HE still knows you when you have misunderstood Him, when you have doubted Him, and when you have denied Him.]

[The real question is:

Do I have a personal history with Jesus Christ? The one sign of discipleship is intimate connection with Him, a knowledge of Jesus Christ which nothing can shake.[1][That happens through prayer]

How is it that we build our relationship with Jesus Christ? Through intimate prayer and study of the Word. The more you pray, the closer you stay – the less you pray the more you stray!]

[1]Chambers, O. (1986). My utmost for his highest: Selections for the year. [bracketed text are mine]