You Know Me… But Do I Know You?
Knowing About Jesus Is Not the Same as Having a Relationship With Him
Scripture Focus: Matthew 7:21–23 | John 10:14, 27 | Matthew 6:33
Watch: You Know Me… But Do I Know You?
Listen to Jesus — Part 7 | Built In Faith
A short reflection on Matthew 7:23 and what it truly means to know Jesus and belong to Him.
There is something Jesus said that ought to make every one of us stop and examine our relationship with Him.
In Matthew 7:21–23, Jesus speaks about people who call Him Lord, who claim to have done great things in His name, and yet hear these terrifying words:
“I never knew you.” — Matthew 7:23 (KJV)
Think about that for a moment.
These were not necessarily people who had never heard of Jesus. They knew His name. They called Him Lord. They even claimed to have done remarkable things in His name.
And yet Jesus said He never knew them.
How could that be?
Knowing About Jesus Is Not the Same as Knowing Jesus
Many of us know about Jesus.
We know He was born in Bethlehem. We know He performed miracles. We know He died on the cross and rose again.
We may attend church, read Scripture, listen to sermons, and speak about God with confidence.
But here is the question:
Do we truly know Him?
And just as importantly, does our relationship with Him reflect that we belong to Him?
There is a difference between knowing someone’s name and having a meaningful relationship with that person.
The same is true in our spiritual lives.
We can know the stories of Jesus without ever surrendering our hearts to Him.
We can speak His name without allowing His words to guide our decisions.
We can even claim to love Him while living as though He has no place in our everyday lives.
A Relationship Cannot Be One-Sided
Think about someone you love.
How would that relationship grow if you never spoke to that person, never listened, never spent time together, and never showed any interest in what mattered to them?
It wouldn’t grow very much, would it?
Our relationship with Jesus deserves far more than an occasional thought or a hurried prayer when something goes wrong.
He wants our hearts.
He wants us to seek Him, trust Him, listen to His Word, and walk with Him.
Not just on Sundays.
Not just when life becomes difficult.
But in the ordinary moments of every day.
When we wake up in the morning, when we make decisions, when we face temptation, when we experience blessings, and when we struggle with uncertainty.
Jesus should not merely be someone we turn to when we need something. He should be the One we walk with through everything.
But Doesn’t God Already Know Us?
Of course He does.
God knows our thoughts, our struggles, our past, and even the things we have never spoken aloud.
Psalm 139 reminds us that nothing about us is hidden from Him.
So when Jesus says, “I never knew you,” He is not saying He lacked information about those people.
He is speaking of something far more important: a genuine relationship with Him.
Jesus describes that relationship in John 10:14:
“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” (KJV)
And in John 10:27:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (KJV)
Notice the connection.
His sheep hear Him.
He knows them.
And they follow Him.
That is more than religious familiarity.
That is faith expressed through a living relationship.
Do We Truly Believe He Is God?
This is another question worth asking ourselves.
Do we merely admire Jesus as a wise teacher, or do we truly believe He is our Lord and God?
Thomas, when confronted with the risen Jesus, declared:
“My Lord and my God.” — John 20:28 (KJV)
To acknowledge Jesus as God is not simply to accept a religious statement.
It is to recognize His authority over our lives.
If we truly believe He is Lord, shouldn’t that belief influence how we live?
How we treat others?
How we forgive?
How we pray?
How we respond when His teachings challenge our desires?
True belief does not mean we become perfect overnight.
But genuine faith should lead us toward surrender, repentance, obedience, and love.
Seek Him First, Not Last
Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33:
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness…” (KJV)
First.
Not after everything else has failed.
Not only when we are frightened.
Not merely when we want a blessing.
First.
Seeking Jesus means inviting Him into our everyday lives.
It means remembering Him when nobody is watching.
It means turning to Him when we are tempted to do wrong.
It means asking for His guidance before making decisions.
It means opening our hearts to Him even when we have nothing to ask for.
And it means learning to recognize His voice through Scripture, prayer, and a willingness to obey.
We do not earn His love by performing enough religious activities.
We seek Him because He first loved us.
Our prayers, obedience, and daily devotion are not ways to make God notice us. They are responses to His grace and expressions of a relationship that matters to us.
The Question We Must Ask Ourselves
Imagine standing before Jesus someday.
You recognize Him immediately.
You know His name.
You know what He has done.
You say, “Lord, I know You!”
But what matters is not merely whether we recognize Him.
It is whether we have truly placed our faith in Him and belong to Him.
Have we listened to His words?
Have we trusted Him as our Savior?
Have we welcomed Him into our hearts and allowed Him to transform our lives?
Or have we simply kept Him at a distance, calling on Him only when it was convenient?
The good news is that Jesus invites us into a real relationship with Him today.
We do not need to wait until we become worthy.
We come to Him with humility, faith, and a willing heart.
A Prayer From the Heart
Lord Jesus,
I don’t want to simply know about You.
I want to know You.
I believe You are my Lord and my God.
Teach me to seek You first, to hear Your words, and to follow You with a willing heart.
Help me remember You not only in my difficulties but in every ordinary moment of my life.
Forgive me for the times I have kept You at a distance.
Draw me closer to You.
Let my faith be more than words.
Let it become a life lived with You.
And when my earthly journey is finished, may I stand before You as one who truly belongs to You.
In Your holy name, Amen.
Final Reflection
The most important question is not simply, “Do I know Jesus?”
It is, “Do I truly belong to the Jesus I claim to know?”
Because knowing His name is one thing.
Knowing His heart, trusting His grace, and following His voice is something far greater.
DMantis | Gripes n Grinds n God Talks
Reflect: Are you seeking Jesus as part of your daily life, or only when you need His help?
Continue Your Walk With Jesus
Knowing Jesus is more than recognizing His name. It’s a daily journey of faith, prayer, trust, and surrender.
If this reflection touched your heart, I invite you to continue exploring God’s Word through these related messages:
More Reflections to Encourage Your Faith
- Listen to Jesus Series — Discover the words of Jesus and how His teachings apply to everyday life.
- Following Jesus Through Anxiety — Find encouragement when worry and uncertainty weigh on your heart.
- When God Seems Silent — Learn to trust God’s presence even when His answers seem delayed.
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Remember: Don’t just know about Jesus. Seek Him, trust Him, follow Him, and let your life reflect that you belong to Him.
God bless you,
Tony Aranas
Gripes n Grinds n God Talks