Jesus: Who He Is and How to Know Him: How to Know Jesus

Hello everyone. 🙂

Although I had concluded my series on Jesus, it hit me the other day that I hadn’t shared enough about how to actually get to know Jesus in the series, and so I believe that at least one more blog-post is in order. This being said, in this blog-post, I am providing some information and resources that will help you get to know Jesus personally.

” You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39 (NKJV)

In this verse, Jesus tells us that the scriptures tell us about Him. So, in order to get to know Jesus, we need to read His word. We should always pray that God will guide us before we study His word. 1 Corinthians 2:14 He will always hear and answer this kind of prayer! John 16:3 (KJV) 1 John 5:14-15 (KJV)

Additionally, here are some very practical tips for cultivating a relationship with Jesus. The more we become like Jesus, the sweeter we will find our fellowship with Him (through prayer and through thinking about His will, Word (the Bible) and ways) to be. As we become more and more selfless, as Jesus is, we will enjoy His company more and more, and vice versa. Jesus loves us no matter what we are like, but I believe that He experiences a deepening sweetness in His fellowship with each of us as we grow in our appreciation of the beauties of the completely unselfish and pure way of life that He Himself relishes and enjoys sharing with others.

“Below, I am sharing what God says we must do in order to be forgiven, cleansed and changed into totally unselfish, loving, heaven-fit people. This is all SO empowering and SO encouraging. I beg you all to click on the Bible verses below and read them as well. I cannot beg you hard enough.

1. By confessing our sins and receiving God’s forgiveness and cleansing. 1 John 1:9
2. By studying God’s word and obeying it. Psalm 119:9-12
3. By thinking about God’s love. 1 John 4:16-19
4. By having an active prayer life and by exercising faith in God. Hebrews 11:6 (Note: God knows that we struggle to pray. He is so sympathetic, wise and compassionate. Romans 8:26)
5. By engaging in loving service to others. Isaiah 58:6-11
6. By praising God for His goodness. Psalm 100:4-5
7. By trusting in and resting in God. Isaiah 30:15, Isaiah 32:17” (words within the quotation marks are copied and pasted from this blog-post)

Also, here is a thought to ponder: In order to have loving fellowship with others, we must be considerate. We don’t lovingly make apple pie for a friend or relative whom we know dislikes apple pie. That would be inconsiderate of us. We don’t (or shouldn’t!) live our lives giving others the kinds of gifts that we like without any thought as to what the recipients of the gift likes.

It is sometimes easier for us to appreciate what Jesus has done for us (which we should!), but tempting for us to not be particularly interested in doing things for Him that He likes. I believe that all of us who really want to be best friends with Jesus should consider: Does Jesus actually like my language? Does He like my clothing? Does He like my music? etc. Jesus is very, very kind, and just as a loving parent appreciates the gifts that his or her little child brings him or her, even if they aren’t the kind of gifts that he or she really likes, Jesus sincerely appreciates that we try to honor Him, even when we may not really do so in the way that He likes best. However, just as loving parents hope that we will grow in our abilities to love considerately, so does our loving Jesus.

Also, Jesus likes the things that He likes, and the ways of living that He likes, because He is both God and the Creator of the world and, as such, He truly knows what is best for all of us! He isn’t selfish and arbitrary as we can tend to be. So, we are actually benefitted by studying His Word and seeking to bring our lifestyles into conformity to His will and ways. Jesus loves us so much and He wants to help us to develop beautiful, unselfish, Christlike characters (the word “Christlike” means to be like Jesus Christ).

As I bring this blog-post to a close, I wanted to make you all aware of a wonderful series done by a Christian pastor named Pastor Glenn Coon. Pastor Coon has been deceased for some time now, but his wonderful, upbeat, positive, encouraging and practical Christian legacy lives on through his sermons and books. I hope that this series will provide practical instruction and encouragement to all of you who want to have personal relationships with Jesus and to become like Him.

Blessings and courage to you all. 🙂 Whoever you are, no matter what you have done, no matter what you look like, no matter where you are from, no matter how much money you have or don’t have etc., Jesus LOVES you!

 I quoted John 5:39 from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Photo credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/jesus-reaching-out-gm182707450-12497376