Do you know Jesus? Apparently, if this question happens to be thrown at a group of Christians, majority will say 'Yes'. Almost everyone who goes to church will say they know Jesus. If you are reading this right now, I am sure you're a Christian or member of one Christian congregation or the other, this question is for you to personally ponder on.

**WHAT KNOWING JESUS IS NOT**

Knowing Jesus is not about being a church-goer. That we are committed members of a particular denomination; that our parents are pastors and elders of a denomination; that we are members of the largest congregation or that we know and are connected to anointed men and women of God does not mean we know Jesus.

It is not enough to know that Jesus is the Messiah who came in the flesh and died for our sins. It is not enough to know that He is God or the Son of God. It is not enough to have pictures and artistic representations of Jesus in our homes, offices, and in our gadgets. Knowing Jesus is not about wearing necklaces that have crucifix attached to them. It is not about wearing clothes that have the name, 'Jesus' printed on them.

**WHAT IT MEANS TO KNOW JESUS**

To be concise, knowing Jesus entails the following:

1. **One must hear and know His voice.**

John 10:27(KJV) "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and the follow me."

There is no way we happen to know someone and that person has never spoken to us. We communicate with our friends and families(and even with strangers). Communication is indispensable in any friendship or relationship.

Are you confident that you know the voice of the Lord? Does He speak to you on daily basis? Every Christian who knows Jesus hears His voice.

2. **One must be crucified to Self and Self-will.**

Matthew 16:24(KJV) "Then Jesus said into His Disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me."

We go after Jesus in order to know Him. Have we denied ourselves and taken up our cross to follow Him on daily basis? Taking up our cross entails not living for ourselves but living to please Him in all we do, as our number one priority. If we have done so, then we know Him.

Apostle Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." - Galatians 2:20(KJV).

Just like Paul, Christians who truly know Jesus are sold out to Him. They ensure that they please Him in thoughts, words and actions. Those who know Jesus understand that their life does not belong to them(1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV), hence, by grace they live everyday of their to glorify the Lord.

3. **One must obey His Word.**

1 John 2:3(KJV) "And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments."

Keeping His commandments simply means living in obedience to His Word. Living in obedience to the Word of God is sacrosant to knowing Him. One cannot separate the two from each other. Simply put, we can say we know Him if we obey Him.

How can you live without knowing your God, your Lord, Father and Saviour? Such life is vanity.

I want you to do self-introspection. **DO YOU REALLY KNOW JESUS?** Deep in your heart If the answer is 'No', humbly go to the Lord in prayer, repent and re-establish your relationship with Him, and live the rest of your life enjoying the innumerable benefits of knowing Him.

The first step to knowing Him is accepting Him into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour. You can do that now by heartily and sincerely saying this short prayer:

Lord Jesus I am sorry for my sins. I desire to live the rest of my life to please you. Forgive and cleanse me from all my transgressions. Come into my life and be my personal Lord and Saviour. Write my name in the Book of Life. Amen.