Getting to Know Jesus

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. — John 20:31

Imagine Jesus savoring boiled fish for breakfast. See his face light up as he delights in a child’s antics. Observe him as he keeps the party going, turning water at a wedding into choice wine.

This is the human Jesus — a man who cried, laughed, slept, conversed and shared affection freely. Few knew Jesus’ personal habits like his twelve disciples. And John, whom Jesus called “beloved,” may have known him best of all.

As an insider, John offers an up-close view of seven of Jesus’ miracles and shares the compelling details of Jesus’ death and resurrection. After all of these real-life stories, John is quick to admit that Jesus did many more miracles: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

“Trust me,” John seems to say. “I knew him. I loved him. I watched him do miracles, die and come back to life again. Jesus is God’s Son. He proved it!” Though we cannot walk beside human Jesus today, millions have seen him through John’s eyes.

Centuries later, a Jesus-follower named Sundar Singh said this about knowing Jesus Christ: ”There are many Christians who do not feel his glorious presence as something real . . . only when someone surrenders his heart to Jesus can he find him.” Singh knew in his mind who Jesus Christ was — but when he surrendered his heart, he found peace even while he was in prison.

How do you know Jesus? Knowing details about his life and ministry isn’t enough. When you receive his forgiveness, you can go beyond knowing him to loving him. When you spend time with him in prayer, you can go beyond loving him to sensing his presence.

How well do you know Jesus? Knowing details about his life and ministry isn’t enough. When you receive his forgiveness, you can go beyond knowing him to loving him. When you spend time with him in prayer, you can go beyond loving him to sensing his presence. Spend some time this next week reading the book of John and get a closer look at who Jesus is.

Questions for Reflection

1. Do you think you know Jesus or just know about Jesus?
2. How much time each day do you spend with him?
3. How has time in his Word and in prayer helped you to know and love him more?

Article taken from the NIV Women’s Devotional Bible.

NIV Women’s Devotional Bible

This Bible includes a full year of devotions written by women of God who offer inspiration, candid perspectives, and guidance. Includes a subject index to help you locate topics easily. Learn Mo

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Stay In Control

By Tia McCollors Sisters in Faith A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back. – Proverbs 29:11 No one knows for sure what emotion led Queen Vashti to refuse her husband’s summons to appear before him at the King’s feast. He’d said he wanted her to wear her crown and to display her beauty for all of the princes, servants and nobles who were dining with him. Perhaps Queen Vashti felt ashamed of his request. The Bible records that King Ahasuerus was drunk with wine. Or maybe she was angry that he wanted her to leave her own feast in order to flaunt herself. Whatever the case, Queen Vashti’s decision costs her the royal position and quite possibly her integrity. Emotions can sometimes lead to rash decisions. Instead of letting our emotions rule our lives, we should rule over our emotions. Practical Application: Take a breather and count to ten. Without emotions, our world would be a gray and predictable place to live with people who all felt and acted the same. Emotions may guide us, but they shouldn’t rule us. Before responding to a situation, ask yourself a few key questions. Can I approach this situation in a different way? If necessary, how can I defuse this situation? What will be the consequences of my actions? Am I willing to live with those consequences, no matter the costs? Prayer: Lord, help me to keep my emotions under control! I want to make decisions that will bring honor and won’t compromise my integrity or the positions you’ve placed me in. Show me how to respond first in love when my emotions try to speak for me. Tia McCollors is a wife and mother who loves to encourage women to wear their faith like a designer label. Information about her inspirational novels and devotions can be found at www.tiamccollors.com.

NEW TESTAMENT READING

View today’s reading at Bible Gateway

Acts 7:1-21 Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin 7 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?” 2 To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. 3 ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’ 4 “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. 5 He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child. 6 God spoke to him in this way: ‘For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated. 7 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’ 8 Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs. 9 “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him 10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace. 11 “Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. 12 When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit. 13 On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family. 14 After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all. 15 Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died. 16 Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money. 17 “As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased. 18 Then ‘a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.’ 19 He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die. 20 “At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for by his family. 21 When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.