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In a pivotal passage, Jesus explains, “I know my own and my own know me” (John 10:14). In this verse he calls himself the good shepherd, and we (Christians) are his sheep, his own.

Notice there is no wiggle room. If you are a true sheep then you know Jesus. No exception clauses, footnotes, or alternatives.

This is our privilege! We know Jesus. And to be “known” by him is chill-bump inducing. 

We are on an adventure to know him more…and more and more and more. The New Testament word for disciple simply means “learner.” Did you know that? How enlightening! And exciting! You and I, as disciples, are on a life-long journey to learn Jesus. (More chill bumps.)

But, hold up. I’ve never personally seen Jesus. So, how do I go about knowing him? Well, he explains this, too: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth” (John 8:31-32b). The “truth” being Jesus, of course (John 14:6). 

We get to know Jesus through the Bible. That is, the more we study the Bible, the more our knowledge of him increases. And if knowing him is the greatest reality on planet earth, why do we (speaking for myself!) so readily neglect the Bible? Christian, you and I are blindfolding ourselves.

J.I. Packer explains it this way: “Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction, and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul.” 

Ever seen a sheep read? 

Friend, the Bible is God’s grace to us. Contained within it is the very knowledge of Jesus. Knowledge that leads us to love him more, making us trust him more, helping us to obey him more, and thus live more missionally. So, yeah. Sheep study the Word. 

We pour ourselves into deep study of the Word, so that we might both confirm and grow in our knowledge of our Shepherd.

Copyright © 2020 by Justin Talbert @ https://getgroundedministries.com . Used with permission. No part of this article may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from Lifeword.org.