Oh, How You Know Me

Do you remember the day you came to God?  I do.  I was twelve and our church was having a week long revival.  Our guest speaker was J. Sidlow Baxter.  I remember him as a tall, grey haired, elderly man with a gentle but powerful voice. I never really met him as he was just in the room when my moment happened.  You see, the kids were in their own classes that night.  My sixth grade class had just ended and I slipped out to go into the sanctuary. My parents were the Jr. High Youth Pastors and were in sitting in the front row with their group. I sat in the back row and stared up at this grey haired gentle giant.  I don’t even remember the words he spoke; I just remember a warm feeling coming over me, and then all of the sudden I was standing.  Then I was walking down the center aisle to the front.  So were some other people.  Music started playing.  No, not angels — it was the worship team. Still, it was a very cool scene.

As I approached the front, and passed my parents, this gentle giant of a man smiled at me.  Tears began to flow down my face.  I still hadn’t heard any words but had only seen a smile from Pastor Baxter…Then a nice older lady put her arm around me and asked me if I wanted to accept Jesus as my Lord. I nodded yes.  She smiled.  We walked to the side and sat down together.  She explained what this decision meant and prayed with me. From that moment on, I would never be the same. 

Even though I had been in church all of my young life, been exposed to ministries, worked as a child leader in children’s church and choirs, I had never really “known” Him until that day. The fact that God knew me before I was known to others, and knows me better than I know myself, is comforting. I think that’s what was drawing me to Him that night in the sanctuary. He knew I would be drawn by the spirit’s leading and He knew He could touch me with a smile. From that day on, how I knew Him increased and expanded. I’ve been blessed to witness many of His incredible events.

We read in John chapter 1 verses 43-50 of just such a first encounter of a disciple, which Nathanael had with Jesus. I’m actually surprised it turned out as well as it did for Nathanael as he kind of insults Jesus before he’s even met him. ”Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’   ‘Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?’ Nathanael asked.”

But in true Jesus form, Jesus expresses His personal interest in Nathanael by telling him He noticed Nathanael under the fig tree before Phillip had called him to be part of the group.  I really love Nathanael’s response, “You know me?” And in this moment Nathanael realizes that Jesus knew him before he knew Jesus — now, that must have been an amazing moment.  And that’s when Jesus laid it on him.  This was only the beginning.  They were all going to see much, much more.

My own adventure of getting to know God all these years has certainly been interesting and full of the “much, much more”. Besides getting to know Him better and better, I am continually finding out more about myself too; which can be challenging in its own right. I wouldn’t trade it for any other life and I can only imagine what more is in store. In good days or difficult times, God knows me and will always stay by my side.

 **Lord, thank you for loving me and calling me to your heart in such a personal way.  Help me to see how you are also working, personally, in others.  Forgive me for my sins and thank you for taking my punishment for them by your sacrifice on the cross. I commit again today to be yours and daily live with you as my Savior.**

“Jesus said, ‘You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.'  He then added, ‘Very truly I tell you, you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’ ” John 1:50-51 (NIV)     

Click here for link to an amazing audio sermon by J. Sidlow Baxter  "Hallelujah, What a Savior"

Prayer Quote from J. Sidlow Baxter  “Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons - but they are helpless against our prayers.”