How well do I know Jesus?
I picked up a new daily devotional – Morning & Evening – from Amazon in the spring. It’s a compilation of a couple different books by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) and is still in the original translation. The English language has changed considerably since the mid 1800’s. His style of writing took me a bit of getting used at first, but he had such a heart for the Lord. Having owned it for six months now, I look forward to reading it each day and would recommend it to others looking for a solid daily devotional.
(As an Amazon affiliate I earn a small commission from purchases made from the links in my posts, like the one above. I do already own everything I link to, though, and will only post links to things I like.)
I found in doing research that his original publication, Morning by Morning, is saved digitally in the Spurgeon Library (Spurgeon.org). Since he has been deceased for over 100 years, it is now public domain. I’m okay to post the devotion below. I’ve provided a link below to the original book in its entirety, published in 1866, if you’re interested in perusing it:
Spurgeon original “Morning by Morning”
The particular writing below touched my heart, not because I have attained this full knowledge of Christ, but because it convicts me. There is still so much more I need to know! For much of my life after I was saved as a young adult I attended church and I prayed on occasion, but I didn’t “meditate” on Him. I participated in a bible study here or there. But I backslid…sadly…a lot, especially in my earlier years.
288 ………………………………………….. DAILY READINGS………………………………………. Oct 14.
I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Philippeans 3:8
SPIRITUAL knowledge of Christ will be a personal knowledge. I cannot know Jesus through another person’s aquaintence with Him. No, I must know him myself; I must know Him on my own account. It will be an intelligent knowledge – I must know Him, not as the visionary dreams of Him, but as the Word reveals Him. I must know His natures, divine and human. I must know His offices – His attributes – His works – His shame – His glory. I must meditate upon Him until I “comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.” It will be an affectionate knowledge of Him; indeed, if I know Him at all, I must love Him. An ounce of heart-knowledge is with a ton of head-learning. Our knowledge of Him will be a satisfying knowledge. When I know my Saviour, my mind will be full to the brim – I shall feel that I have that which my spirit panted after. “This is that bread whereof if a man eat he shall never hunger.” At the same time it will be an exciting knowledge; the more I know of my Beloved, the more I shall want to know. The higher I climb, the loftier will be the summits which invite my eager footsteps. I shall want the more as I get the more. Like the miser’s treasure, my gold will make me covet more. To conclude: this knowledge of Christ Jesus will be a most happy one; in fact, so elevating, that sometimes it will completely bear me up above all trials, and doubts, and sorrows; and it will, while I enjoy it, make me something more than “man that is born of woman, who is of few days, and full of trouble;” for it will fling about me the immortality of the ever-living Saviour, and gird me with the golden girdle of His eternal joy. Come, my soul, sit at Jesus’ feet, and learn of Him all this day.
In reading Spurgeon’s writing above and comparing that to my life, it drives home the point. The more we know Jesus, the more we’ll want to know. My heart really does desire to follow Him more over time, and that desire grows stronger as I spend more time with Him. How can we know Him if we don’t take the time to pray and read the bible? I will not be well acquainted with someone if I only spend an hour a week with them. If I spend time with them daily, my relationship will grow deeper and be more meaningful.
Building the relationship
Relationships take work – with other humans – and with God (Father, Son & Holy Spirit). Most of us aren’t tremendously invested in the lives of our casual acquaintances. But take our spouses, our children, our loved ones. We know them well. We love them. We desire to please them. How can I love Jesus and desire to please him if I don’t know him well?
The start of the pandemic was difficult for me. My struggle is with anxiety, and I had many concerns that came with the unknown (worry is a lack of faith, I know, but I’m being honest here). One of my friends from church was kind enough to send uplifting emails and share some of her favorite devotions to encourage me during that time. When I wasn’t sure what to read or pray and struggled with depression that took away my motivation to even do at times, these devotions drew me into God’s word. And His word brought me comfort!
(As an aside, my friend was a great example of how we the Church act as God’s hands and feet on earth. Linda – if you ever see this post – thank you!)
I was reminded, the more I prioritize my time with the Lord, the stronger my relationship with Him will be. God wants us to come to Jesus and to get to know Him. Converting an extra closet into my “prayer closet” was helpful for me as it gave me a physical space to separate myself from my distractions and focus on Him.
Again, back to early pandemic when I was feeling shaky. Scripture seemed dry which only made me feel worse about things. Doubts started to creep in. (Satan’s deception is dangerous!) “What if God didn’t choose me? What if, even though I want to come to Christ, even though I’ve asked Him to save me, what if it’s somehow not meant for me? What if I’m not included?” (I think many of us have had moments where we lack full assurance whether it be due to sin or circumstances.)
His word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
I’m don’t remember now what led me to opening my bible to Isaiah 55 that day. I might have been reading a devotion or may have just flipped it open and started reading (I do both), but I do still remember the experience. It was like a light shined into my heart and illuminated it. The words were alive! And they said,
Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!
Isaiah 55:1
God invites everyone to come! I am included in “everyone”. If I’ve trusted Jesus, if I’ve called on Him to save me and be Lord of my life – I will not be turned away, despite what Satan might want me to believe. I’ve gone back to that verse so many times since it first impacted me.
As believers we face a daily struggle to keep worldly cares and temptations from dragging us down. When we are not looking to God for strength and guidance daily, we can slip and fall quickly. Thankfully, our God loves us and longs for us to turn back to Him. In Jesus’s parable of the prodigal son, he said:
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
Luke 15:20
And then there’s that final sentence in Spurgeon’s devotion about sitting at Jesus’ feet and learning of him all day…
One of my favorite mental images of what I hope heaven to be like – one I’ve held for years – is me sitting in the grass near a peaceful stream at the feet of Jesus, the warm sun shining and birds singing, as He talks with me. My Lord. My Savior. My friend.
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
