Today’s Bible Verse
And then I [Jesus] will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
Matthew 7:23 (NKJV)
An Uncommon Response
This verse brings about some very sobering thoughts. What did Jesus mean when He said “I never knew you”? How could those who: called on the name of the Lord, prophesied, and even cast out demons in His name, not be known by the Lord? Why would Jesus say, He never knew them, if they knew His name, cast out demons in His name, and even called on His name to be saved? Jesus, do you really know me (and I know You) as well as I think You do?
Let’s focus on the word “knew” in this verse. The Greek word for “knew” in this particular verse is ginóskó (ghin-oce’-ko), which means to know through personal experience or to know experientially. In other passages in the Bible, the same word is used to describe the intimacy between a husband and wife. The followers Jesus referred to are those who had head knowledge of the word, even had faith to cast out demons and see miracles performed, yet they never knew (ginóskó) Him intimately (and He never knew them).
God explicitly communicates His desire for all people, throughout the Word of God (Jesus is the Word; He was the Word made flesh); to know Him intimately through the Word (through Jesus). Jesus explained to His disciples (we are His disciples); “if you had known Me (the Word), you would have known My Father also” (John 14:7). (Rachel Wela)
An Uncommon Life
In the verses following Matthew 7:23, Jesus explains how to live (know Him, and be known by Him personally and intimately): “Those people who are listening to Me [and have an intimate relationship with the Word-Jesus], those people who hear what I say and live according to My teachings—you are like a wise man who built his house on a rock, on a firm foundation. When storms hit, rain pounded down and waters rose, levies broke and winds beat all the walls of that house. But the house did not fall because it was built upon rock (Jesus, revelation of the anointing)” (Matthew 7:24-25).
For life to be conceived, intimacy is required. Jesus promised us Life and Life more abundantly. This Life is conceived through an intimate relationship with Jesus (the Word). In Matthew 7:14, Jesus explained to those that followed Him: “narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Who is willing to pay the price and do the things required to live the life (anointing) He has given us?
Today’s Declaration
Lord, I desire to have an intimate relationship with You. Holy Spirit, thank You, for leading me in the truth of the Word, magnifying Jesus Christ, the anointed One and His anointing, in my life. Your anointing abides in me, and I am confident in the anointing because I know Jesus, and Jesus knows me!
Today’s Bible Reading
Our Bible Reading Plan gives 25 daily readings per month. There is no scheduled reading for today. You can use this time to catch up on any readings you may have missed, or read through previous passages again.
