Do I Know You?

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 

2 Peter 3:18

Have you ever seen someone at a distance and recognized her, but you didn’t know how you knew her? Maybe you knew that person from a particular place, and out of that situation, you couldn’t place her.

In college I was a lifeguard at a country club. I watched many families throughout the summer. Once I ran into a mother who frequented the pool at a store. We both recognized each other, but it took us a few minutes of conversation before we realized that we knew each other from the pool. We laughed because we didn’t recognize each other with clothes on! We clearly did not know each other well.

On the other hand, there are those whom I know very well. I can spot a loved one across the room just by the way he or she moves. Also, I can usually predict my husband’s or my children’s reactions to certain situations. My daughter was once surprised by how much I knew about how she felt or what she was about to say. I told her, “Baby, I just know you!”

There’s a difference between recognizing someone and knowing someone personally. In 2 Peter 1:3 Peter writes, His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. The Greek word used here is epignosis, which is a fuller and deeper knowledge. Peter reminds us that this knowledge goes much deeper than recognition.

It would seem to me that we would not get everything we need for life and godliness just by knowing the facts about Jesus. Those who claim that Jesus was just a good teacher obviously don’t know Him. He is EVERYTHING! Our Lord gives us strength, wisdom, peace . . . This list goes on and on.

Do you know Him? I mean, really know Him? You can! You can know God’s character as you study the Bible, and you can know the Father’s heart as you open yours by spending time with Him.

Julie