(#1556) Day 2. Now This Is Eternal Life - Knowing God (8/926)
Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (currently posted on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) as we continue our 9-week series: Fresh Vision From Jesus' High Priestly Prayer from John 17.
To watch this devotional, go to:
Please read John 17:1-5
If you look at the world around us, people's lives reveal what they believe will give them true life. A new car. A new relationship. A bigger house. A better appearance. More success. More attention. We all look somewhere for happiness and fulfilment.
Jesus, however, defines true life in a completely different way:
‘“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”’ (John 17:3)
1. Life Is Knowing The Only True God Through Christ
This is such a radical way of describing the Christian life. To be a Christian is to know God – the only true God – and to know Jesus Christ, whom He has sent.
Jesus tells us that there is only one “true God”. In our pluralistic world, with its pick-and-mix approach to faith, this comes as a timely word to us. Jesus is not saying that every form of spirituality is equally valid, or that it doesn’t matter what we believe about God.
True life is found in knowing “the only true God”, and we come to know Him through “Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
Jesus has been sent. This Gospel opens by teaching us about Jesus and His coming into the world. In the first chapter, we read:
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” (John 1:9)
Jesus is the “true light”. He comes to enlighten our darkened hearts so that we can recognise who He is, receive Him as Saviour, and come to know the true God.
2. Eternal Life Is a Growing Knowledge of God
In addition to coming to know God in salvation, there’s to be a growing knowledge of God throughout our lives - Knowledge is meant to grow.
David Garland writes of this biblical idea of knowing (ginōskō):
‘Knowledge in the biblical sense means far more than intellectual comprehension; it involves a profound personal relationship.’
This sets before us a wonderful vision for life. Our greatest ambition is not simply to know more about God, but to know God Himself more deeply. True life is found in delighting in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
As we come to know Him more, we discover that He is our deepest joy, our lasting peace, and our greatest treasure.
3. How Do We Grow in the Knowledge of God?
i. Have We Come to Know God Through Christ?
Everything begins here. Have you entered into a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ? Do you believe that Jesus was sent by the Father to save you?
ii. Are We Seeking Life in the Wrong Places?
The world, the flesh, and the devil continually tempt us to look elsewhere for satisfaction.
John Piper writes:
‘We were made to know and treasure the glory of God above all things; and when we trade that treasure for images, everything is disordered. The sun of God’s glory was made to shine at the centre of the solar system of our soul. And when it does, all the planets of our life are held in their proper orbit. But when the sun is displaced, everything flies apart. The healing of the soul begins by restoring the glory of God to its flaming all-attracting place at the centre.’ (John Piper, Seeing and Savouring Jesus Christ, page 21)
iii. Are We Pursuing a Deeper Knowledge of God?
The account of Jesus' transfiguration gives us a beautiful picture of what God desires for His people:
‘Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light…While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:1-2, 5)
As with Peter, James and John, Jesus wants to take us to places of greater revelation and knowledge.
Jesus’ transfigured glory spoke of His divine majesty, and God wants to keep revealing His glory to us.
As with these disciples, God wants to speak to us and say, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
All that happened at The Transfiguration, and God continues to reveal His Son to us today. As we come to Him in His Word, in prayer, in worship, and in fellowship with His people, the Holy Spirit increasingly opens our eyes to the beauty and glory of Christ.
John Piper writes:
‘To know the glories of Christ is an end, not a means. Christ is not glorious so that we get wealthy or healthy. Christ is glorious so that rich or poor, sick or sound, we might be satisfied in him…Seeing a savouring this glory is the goal of our salvation…To feast on this forever is the aim of our being created and our being redeemed.’ (John Piper, Seeing and Savouring Jesus Christ, page 27, 31)
The question, then, is not simply, Do we believe in God? The question is, Do we long to know Him? Like the psalmist, may we be able to say:
‘As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.’ (Psalm 42:1)
Jim Cymbala writes:
‘God will manifest himself in direct proportion to our passion for him. The principle he laid down long ago is still true. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’ (Jim Cymbala: Fresh Wind Fresh Fire)
Moment To Reflect
Jesus says, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
Does your thinking and lifestyle show that knowing God is your greatest pursuit?
Are there things that have begun to replace Him as your greatest treasure?
How is Jesus inviting you to know Him more deeply through His Word, prayer, worship, and fellowship?
Download the booklet
Below is the link to download the devotional booklet: Fresh Vision From Jesus Prayer. This is a series of 27 devotionals based upon Jesus' High Priestly Prayer in John 17.
This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of CCP; to watch our anniversary video, please select the link below:
Community Group Study
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
Following the summer period, you may want to use this time to catch up and reconnect.
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.
On Sunday, we began our new series, Fresh Vision From Jesus’ Prayer, reflecting on God’s vision for our lives and the church through Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer in John 17.
(Note: To accompany this series, we have produced a devotional series. To download the full booklet, visit our devotional page or go directly to communitychurchputney.com/post/fresh-vision-from-jesus-prayer. Daily devotions will also be posted every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday on the Community Church Putney channel.)
Read John 17:1–5 together and discuss:
What spoke to or inspired you from Sunday’s message?
Has anything from this week's devotions encouraged or helped you that you could share with the group?
On Sunday, we reflected on the truth that true life is found in knowing and seeking God, requiring us to constantly refocus our vision on Him.
What does Jesus mean in verse 3 when He says, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent”?
How are you currently pursuing - or how could you pursue - a deeper personal knowledge of God?
Let’s pray together:
For our new series: Pray that God uses Fresh Vision From Jesus’ Prayer to inspire, refresh, and re-envision us as a church.
For Serendipity: Pray for Graeme, the team, and the relaunch in its new format. Ask God to raise up more volunteers from within the church family.
For students: Pray for the young people in our church and community who are heading off to university.
Let’s pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.
SIV:
Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us.
Pray for the ‘people of peace’ in our lives, asking God to open their hearts and give us the Love and boldness to share His love as He opens opportunities.
Comments