What steps can you take to deepen your knowledge of God like Jesus? The Key Verse John 17:25: “Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me.” What Jesus Models About Knowing the Father - His knowledge is personal—“I know You.” - His knowledge is relational—He calls God “Father.” - His knowledge is certain—He speaks in confident, present-tense terms. - His knowledge produces witness—“they know that You sent Me.” Why This Matters for Us John 17:3 reminds us that knowing God is “eternal life.” If Jesus’ relationship with the Father is our pattern, we need practical, daily ways to grow in the same kind of intimate knowledge. Seven Practical Steps to Deepen Your Knowledge of God 1. Spend unhurried time in Scripture • Read with expectation that God is speaking (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • Meditate day and night (Psalm 1:2). • Trace God’s character in every passage—His holiness, mercy, justice, love. 2. Cultivate a lifestyle of prayerful communion • Follow Jesus’ example of regular, private prayer (Mark 1:35). • Keep an open dialogue: “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). • Include praise and thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4) so your heart warms to who He is. 3. Obey promptly and completely • “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). • Obedience turns knowledge into experience (James 1:22). • Every step of obedience opens the door to deeper revelation (John 14:21). 4. Depend on the Holy Spirit’s teaching • Jesus promised, “The Holy Spirit…will teach you all things” (John 14:26). • Ask Him to illuminate Scripture and apply it to daily life. • Submit to His conviction, guidance, and empowerment (Galatians 5:16). 5. Walk in fellowship with other believers • God often reveals Himself through His people (Ephesians 4:15-16). • “Let us not neglect meeting together” (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Share insights, bear burdens, and celebrate God’s faithfulness together. 6. Practice continual worship and gratitude • Worship aligns your heart with God’s greatness (Psalm 95:6-7). • Gratitude keeps you mindful of His daily mercies (Lamentations 3:22-23). • Sing, speak, and think truths that magnify Him (Colossians 3:16). 7. Tell others what you are learning • Confessing Christ reinforces your own grasp of His nature (Philemon 6). • Evangelism invites God to work through you, deepening reliance on Him (Matthew 28:19-20). • Your testimony becomes a living illustration of God’s reality. Promises to Hold Onto - Jeremiah 9:24: “Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me.” - James 4:8: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” - John 15:15: “I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.” Putting It All Together Jesus’ words in John 17:25 show that knowing the Father is possible, personal, and transforming. As you anchor yourself in Scripture, converse with God in prayer, obey what He says, rely on the Spirit, live in community, practice worship, and share your faith, you will grow steadily in the same rich, confident knowledge of God that marked Jesus’ life on earth. |
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