How to Know Jesus and Make Him Known
How can we know Jesus more intimately?
During my early years of being a Christ-follower, I missed an important aspect of the Christian life.
Christ not only desired that I know Him as Savior and Lord, but also that I continued to grow in knowing Him more intimately on a daily basis.
Because this is the only way to let Christ live in and through my life, and for others to see Jesus in me.
Eventually, this became my mission statement for my speaking, writing, and blogging ministry:
To know Jesus more and make Him known.
To really know someone, we spend time with that person. For instance, we know our spouse and children more than anyone else.
Who we live with, we grow to know more each day through two-way communication and interaction.
Know Jesus
These same simple principles hold true to K.N.O.W. Jesus.
K – Keep our relationship alive and well. Cultivate our love relationship with Jesus as if our life depends on it. Because most of the time, dear friend, we will find this to be the case. A growing and vibrant friendship with Jesus makes a world of difference in the ups and downs of life.
N – Never stop investing time. My adult son recently moved halfway across the country. It drove home the point to continue to connect with him. We frequently text, call and FaceTime. We also started a family group on Marco Polo so all of us can send and receive videos.
Make it a habit to spend time with Christ. Connect with who Jesus is by reading the Bible and getting to know the words Christ spoke, the way He prayed, and the words spoken about Him. Never move away from Jesus emotionally or spiritually.
Spend time with Christ. Connect with who Jesus is by reading the Bible, getting to know the words Christ spoke, the way He prayed, and the words spoken about Him. Never move away from Jesus emotionally or spiritually. Click To TweetKnow Jesus More
O – Open our heart fully. Maybe our heart has endured heartbreak from a spouse, kids, parents or friends. So we closed off part of our heart to protect it. But if we over guard our heart, we risk closing it off to Jesus.
To know Jesus fully is to open our heart fully to Him. Be still in His presence. Bask in the light of His glory. Tell Jesus how lovely He is and how much we love Him. Express our dreams, fears, hopes and heartbreak to the heart of Jesus.
W – Walk daily with Jesus. I’d much rather go on a walk with my husband or a friend than to walk alone. But when I walk alone, I love to talk to Jesus and imagine I invited Him along. Jesus longs to walk with us every step along life’s path. This is a great way to grow in our knowledge of Christ.
As we walk with Jesus, He’s there during decisions, celebrations, tragedy and the everyday grind. He’s there for it all. Every morning invite Jesus to come along with you throughout the day.
In Peter’s second letter to believers, he encouraged them not to be carried away from their firm beliefs in Scripture and knowing Christ, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18a (NIV)
Make Jesus Known
Years ago, I asked the Lord to make me an influencer for Him. I not only wanted to make an impact on others in my ministry, but also on my family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and even online. I used to underestimate my online reach for Christ, not any more.
I’m intentional to share these blog articles and about Christ and what He has done in my life across all social media venues. Also, I’m not ashamed to talk to others in person about Jesus, to share the gospel.
“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.‘ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” Romans 10:13-14 (ESV, emphasis added)
How can knowing Jesus help us make Christ known to others?
As we know Jesus intimately in all the ways mentioned above, something happens, people see Jesus in us. When we nurture our relationship with Jesus, we nurture the impact we make on others for Christ.
When we nurture our relationship with Jesus, we nurture the impact we make on others for Christ. Click To TweetK – Keep our relationship alive and well.
N – Never stop investing time.
O – Open our heart fully.
W – Walk daily with Jesus.
N – Nurture our impact on others.
Nurture our Impact
A close-knit relationship with Jesus changes us from the inside out. And it spills over into our other relationships in communities in person and online.
A close-knit relationship with Jesus changes us from the inside out. And it spills over into our other relationships in communities in person and online. Click To Tweet
How important is it for you to know Jesus more intimately and make Him known?
Anything you would add?
Also see, If the World Needs Anything Now It’s Jesus
Featured images from our YouTube Channel, Friday’s Forever, “Our Story: This is Us”
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Recharge Wednesday/Let’s Have Coffee/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth) and Faith On Fire.
© 2022 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
I always enjoy your use of acronyms to help us remember your valuable points!
Thanks so much, Ava. I pray to N=never move away from Jesus emotionally or spiritually.
The more I read His Word and share conversation with Him, the deeper the relationship becomes. I can always tell when I haven’t shared time with the Lord.
I can tell the difference too, Melissa. A growing and vibrant friendship with Jesus makes a world of difference in the ups and downs of life. Thanks for your comment.
Karen, you certainly gave me so much food for thought with this reflection today. I’ve written down the acronym for “Known,” and will certainly return to it again and again. We can only have an impact on others for Jesus when we, ourselves, invest the time and make the commitment to submit to Him over and over again.
Blessngs!
Hi Martha, grateful you enjoyed the acronym. Like how you expressed, “We can only have an impact on others for Jesus when we, ourselves, invest the time and make the commitment to submit to Him over and over again.” Yes, dear friend. God bless!
Yes! When I finally realized that God knows everything about me (and I’m still in awe that even with that knowledge, He still loves me), but I know very little about Him, that I determined myself to learn more. While I long ago recognized I can NEVER fully explore the depths of mystery that is Him, I can learn much more. In learning more, through His word and time spent in His presence, and under His tutelage, I’m finding He is adding more of Him into me (character, etc.); and the more He adds, the more people see Him in my life. What a blessing that is, to know God is using us in His service. Another wonderful post Ms. Karen. Thank you ma’am.
Love this thought, J.D., “He is adding more of Him into me (character, etc.); and the more He adds, the more people see Him in my life.” That’s a good word and summarizes an intimate relationship with Christ, growing in knowledge of Him and letting Him live in us. Let’s keep our relationship with Jesus alive and well. God bless!
Thank you, Karen, for always calling us to faithfulness through your insightful analysis of scripture.
Appreciate your comment, Nancy. I pray we invite Jesus to come along with us throughout the day, every morning.
Amen. I’m so thankful that the church I was in when I was saved as a teenager emphasized getting to know God and His will better by reading the Bible. I haven’t always read/followed/emphasized knowing Him better as I ought, but He faithfully brought me back to that truth every time.
That’s a real blessing, Barbara. Because so many times, we tell others about Jesus, then when they become His followers, we forget this great aspect of the Christian journey to know Him and make Him known. Thanks for sharing!
Time with Jesus, turning to Him, listening to Him, and grabbing hold of His hands as He saves me from going over the edge, YES! He is the Go-to! We learn to know Him better throughout our lives as we study His Word and learn to lament, to cry out to Him when times are hard, to bask in His nearness when He overwhelms us with the presence of His Spirit, and to talk with Him as we go throughout our day. To KNOW Jesus is the most glorious experience in life.
Melinda, I like how you said, “To KNOW Jesus is the most glorious experience in life.” Oh, yes, dear friend. The most glorious. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18a (NIV)
So good, Karen. You are right… we can come to know Christ intimately by reading the Bible, by praying, and by keeping our hearts centered on Him.
Agree, Jessica. The best part is how much the Lord will help us know Christ more intimately if we simply ask.
Great acronym, Karen!
Glad this encouraged you, Lisa. Thanks so much! A close-knit relationship with Jesus changes us from the inside out. And it spills over into our other relationships in communities in person and online.
You always make it so easy to remember your wonderful messages. Thanks Karen.
Thank you, Yvonne.
K – Keep our relationship alive and well.
N – Never stop investing time.
O – Open our heart fully.
W – Walk daily with Jesus.
N – Nurture our impact on others.
Thank you for the helpful and impactful acrostic. I will admit that I struggle with “O” – but, like you, I have learned a lot of practical applications after my son moved to the other side of the country!! A very practical post – thanks!
Hi Jennifer, so you have a son who moved far away too. Yes, we “know.” I pray we open our heart fully to Him. Be still in His presence. Bask in the light of His glory. Tell Jesus how lovely He is and how much we love Him. Express our dreams, fears, hopes and heartbreak to the heart of Jesus.
Yes – he moved to Anchorage in August (I’m on the East Coast!!) I’m daily learning how to improve my “being still” and, yes, basking in His glory!! Thanks for the encouragement, Karen!
Wow, Jennifer, he is far away. So glad Jesus stays near. Being still and basking in God’s glory. Hallelujah!
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“A close-knit relationship with Jesus changes us from the inside out. And it spills over into our other relationships in communities in person and online.” Karen, thank you for these words. God will use us as He deems best. It is our job to nurture our relationship with Him. Blessings!
So true, Joanne. If we would only do our job and let God do the rest. God bless.
Thank you for sharing these K.N.O.W.N principals. These are truly great steps within our walk.
Visiting today from Let’s Have Coffee #20
Thanks for visiting, Paula.
K – Keep our relationship alive and well.
N – Never stop investing time.
O – Open our heart fully.
W – Walk daily with Jesus.
N – Nurture our impact on others.
Hi Karen. Nicely written. I can relate. It is easy to miss the importance of knowing Jesus and walking with Him daily when we are younger. I feel bad that I didn’t do better. But…. I enjoy my time with him daily now. Great post! God bless!
Thank you, Jodi. Yes, we need to focus on today and spending time knowing Jesus more.