Known by Him

My prayer life doesn’t stop my work life. My prayer life doesn’t stop me from doing things. When I go to take care of the lawn, it’s a three-and-a-half hour job... But what am I doing when I’m mowing? I’m cultivating intimacy with Jesus. When you’re doing laundry, you can cultivate intimacy with Jesus. You must be a steward of intimacy because here’s the deal: remember the 10 virgins from Matthew 25? At the end, when the bridegroom came and shut the door, the five virgins went in. They said to the five that didn’t have oil, “go out and get your own, because if we give you ours, we’re not going to have enough.”

When the five virgins without oil came to the door, the bridegroom said something. He didn’t say, “You know what, you’re late.” He didn’t say, “You should have had oil, you should have thought about that.” He said this: “I don’t know you.” There’s a difference between you saying that you know God and you knowing that God knows you. There’s a difference between you saying that you know God and you knowing that you’re known by Him, because the Bible says that we need to be known by Him. In Matthew 7, Jesus says, “‘Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven.’” He will say to them, “‘I never knew you; depart from Me’ …” And then what does Jesus say? “‘You who practice lawlessness!’” Because they didn’t know Him. Sin was active in their life.

God’s not after religious performance. He doesn’t want concubines—He wants a bride. When we’re born again, our sin is removed as far as the east is from the west. He takes away all that junk so we can think clearly and live from a clean conscience. That’s how you build oil. And if you don’t know Him, you won’t build that oil. So be a steward of intimacy. It’s essential to your walk with Him.

Challenge for Today: Ask God: “Do You know me?” and sit quietly, listening for His voice.

-Todd