“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32
After 19 years of marriage, I get an incredible amount of peace from my relationship with my wife. We have been through so much together. I have seen her in so many different situations, and she has been there for me through my best and worst times. It is quite possible that someone else, maybe her mom or her doctor, could know more about her than I do. But no one truly knows her better than I do. It is this intimacy that brings peace. Hopefully, at some point, you have experienced the kind of peace and freedom that comes from a thriving relationship with a faithful spouse, a loving parent, or a loyal friend. The freedom that John 8:32 speaks of does not come from simply knowing facts about Jesus or being an expert in theology, it comes from truly knowing Jesus. Later, in John 14:6, Jesus will say, “I am the Truth,” He is the One we need to know, and He is the One who sets us free. As J.I. Packer says, “A little knowledge of God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge about him.” Peace, especially through difficult situations, never comes from knowing a lot about God. But inside a relationship with God, truly knowing Him, there is everything we need for abundant life. True peace can only be found in a thriving relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Father, grant us intimacy with You, and not just a knowledge of You, so that we can live every day with the peace, confidence, and freedom that you created us for.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Shane Cannon <><