John 14:9

“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”

To hear is to perceive with the ear the sound made by (someone or something). To listen or pay attention to. To listen and to judge.

To listen is to give one’s attention to a sound. To take notice of and act on what someone says; respond to advice or a request. To make an effort to hear something; be alert and ready to hear something.

To know is to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information. To have developed a relationship with (someone) through meeting and spending time with them; be familiar or friendly with.

These are all simple words yet sometimes we miss what they truly mean because they are so simple.

We can interact with someone daily and still not know them. We can love someone and not really know them. This is a selfish kind of love. This is a love where we take more from the relationship than we give. We have all had this type of relationship before, and it is always unsatisfying for one person. For it is hard to give yourself and not get the full person in return.

In a healthy relationship, both parties should seek to know what the other needs to be happy. This information is gleaned from spending quality time in conversation. For communication to be effective both parties must hear. Hearing leads to listening. Listening causes actions that ultimately prove you know (or love) one another.

The saying is true “to know me is to love me.” To know God is to love him!

Do you know him?

I believe that Philip had love for Jesus in John 14:9. However, he did not make the effort to “know” Jesus. Believe me, there is a profound difference.

When we know him, we know his will. His will is laid out in detail in his word. In John 6:63, Jesus says “…the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” The words that he speaks are life and peace to those that hear, listen, and know!

Philip asked a question. He probably felt it was a reasonable question meant to show his intent, his interest, his love. However, his question really showed that in all his time with Jesus, he never took the time to know him.

Jesus’ response was good because it provided Philip the opportunity to understand how he was missing the mark in their relationship. It gave him a chance to do better.

Do you know him?

We too, ask questions of Jesus proving that we don’t know him as well as we should.

Questions that are grounded in doubt of just who he is. Questions such as can you deliver me from this? Are you able to heal me from this? Is this too much for me? Can I truly walk in peace? In love? The questions can be endless, however, Jesus’ answer is always consistent. How is that you’ve been with me all this time and still not know me?

When you take the time to know him through relationship with him. Through study of his word, you also gain confidence and a boldness that you never knew before. The confidence and boldness is not about you, but it is about God.

When you know him, the questions cease. Instead you begin to remind him of what he said in his word, and stand on them by faith.

You decree, you declare, and you stand until the manifestation comes. You endure to the end.

I am not saying you cannot ask God questions. In fact, you should ask. However the type of questions you ask change. You move from questions that are grounded in doubt, to questions that are grounded in faith. Questions such as is now the time to say this? Or go there? What is your will in this situation? Because we know him the questions we ask come from a place of our history with him.

If you don’t know him, now is a good time to change that.

Invite Jesus in to your heart. Ask him to lead you to a Bible based church where you can learn more of him and receive the full plan of salvation outlined in Acts 2:38. Take action while there is still time.

Questions or comments? Please leave them below.

Have a blessed day!