Knowing About God Is Not Knowing God

You can know the doctrine cold and still feel like something is missing. The notes are there, the sermons are saved, the verses are highlighted. And there is still a gap you cannot really explain to anyone.

John 14:6 says, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Most of us are completely settled on the first two. Jesus is the way, so we are saved, and Jesus is the truth, so we know what is right. Then there is a third word we tend to skip straight past. Life.

Here is the thing. There is a difference between relationship and fellowship, and mixing the two up is what leaves people frustrated. Relationship is the blood tie, settled by Jesus at the cross, and nothing you do this week can undo it. Fellowship is the daily walking and talking part, the thing Adam had in the garden before anything went wrong.

1 John 1:3 says, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." John had walked with Jesus in person. What he wanted to hand people was not a doctrinal position, it was fellowship with the Father. Truth stops being a concept at that point and becomes something you have actually lived.

This is not a call to try harder at being devoted. The Spirit already lives in you and God is not waiting to be talked into speaking. So put the phone face down for ten minutes before Instagram in the morning and talk to Him about the day you are dreading. On the commute, ask Him what He thinks about the decision you are stuck on instead of replaying it in your head. When the group chat is arguing about a verse, take it to Him first and let Him say something to you personally.

The life Jesus offered is not stored in your notes app. It is in Him, and He is already in you. Fellowship is just you saying yes to a door that is already open.