What practical steps can we take to know Jesus and the Father better? Understanding John 14:7 “If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” (John 14:7) Jesus links knowing Himself with knowing the Father. Every practical step, therefore, centers on deepening our relationship with Him. Seeing Jesus = Seeing the Father • John 14:9—“Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.” • Hebrews 1:3—“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature.” • Colossians 1:15—“He is the image of the invisible God.” The clearer we see Christ, the clearer we see the Father. Cultivate Relational Knowledge through Scripture • Immerse in the Gospels. Read a chapter of John daily; note Jesus’ words, works, and ways. • Trace Him through all Scripture (Luke 24:27). Look for promises, prophecies, and pictures that point to Christ. • Memorize key verses that reveal His character (e.g., John 10:11; Matthew 11:29). • Rely on the Spirit’s teaching—“All Scripture is God-breathed and useful…” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Engage Daily in Intimate Prayer • Talk with Him as a Person, not a concept (John 15:4). • Set focused times: morning thanksgiving, midday requests, evening reflection. • Pray Scripture back to Him—turn John 17:3 into a daily request. • Listen in silence; allow space for His Spirit to impress truth on your heart (John 16:13). Walk in Obedient Love • “By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.” (1 John 2:3) • Begin with the great commandments—love God wholly, love neighbor sacrificially (Matthew 22:37-39). • Practice immediate, specific obedience: forgive, give, serve when prompted. • Keep short accounts; confess sin quickly (1 John 1:9). Obedience clears the relational channel. Depend on the Spirit’s Illumination • Ask daily for revelation—Ephesians 1:17-18. • Expect the Spirit to guide you into all truth (John 16:13). • Yield to His conviction and comfort; He magnifies Christ in you (John 16:14). Stay Planted in Christ-Centered Community • Acts 2:42 shows early believers “devoted…to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship.” • Participate in corporate worship; hear Jesus preached, see Him in others. • Join a small group or study class focused on Scripture. • Seek mentors who model Christ; imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7). Serve and Imitate His Heart • Jesus “came not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45). • Volunteer in ministries that meet tangible needs; you’ll experience His compassion firsthand (Matthew 25:40). • Share the gospel; nothing reveals Christ like speaking of Him (Philemon 6). Guard Your Thoughts and Affections • Meditate on what is true, honorable, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). • Limit voices that dim your view of Christ—media, relationships, habits. • Fill the day with worship music, sermons, and testimonies that exalt Him. Keep Returning to the Gospel • The cross and resurrection remain the clearest display of Father and Son (Romans 5:8). • Preach the gospel to yourself: forgiven, adopted, empowered. • Every fresh glimpse of grace deepens love and knowledge of the One who gave it (Galatians 2:20). Consistent, Spirit-empowered practice of these steps draws us into ever-closer fellowship with Jesus—and, through Him, with the Father He perfectly reveals. |
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