Known

The wooden silk-screened plaque anchors the picture grouping of our four GRAND-children on the wall of our bedroom. When I first saw the plaque the words immediately resonated. I bought two of them. My friend bought one too.

Jesus knows me, this I love.

No, it’s not a typo (a rearrangement of the beloved children’s song, Jesus Loves Me). I love that Jesus knows me.

A few weeks ago I was reminded again of that truth and I smiled. Jesus knows me. He communicated it to me by the joy I felt in using our home to bless my friends.

It was almost five years ago; I was driving down the interstate and the hymn, I am Thine, O Lord came to mind—one I hadn’t sung in years. The next day I gathered my Bible, journal, and our hymn book and headed outside for some time of pondering with God. When I opened the hymn book to I am Thine, O Lord, several words from the second stanza ministered to me deeply. Funny, I didn’t remember the second stanza, but when I read the words—“consecrate”, “steadfast hope”, “my will be lost in thine”—I dissolved in tears. They were the affirmation I needed that day.

Jesus knows me.

More recently, my friend exhorted me (or was it a rebuke?) through an email, her words were like an arrow to my heart—exactly what I needed to hear.

Jesus knows me.

Almost three years ago, a new friend—only an acquaintance at the time—and I were taking a walk in a beautiful, deserted canyon. I don’t remember how the conversation started, but I do remember looking at her in amazement as we discovered our shared passion for spiritual formation. Our friendship took a quantum leap forward that morning and her friendship has been a salve to me ever since.

Jesus knows me.

Occasionally I hear someone say, “I wish I had known (or learned) that—whatever “that” is—twenty years ago.” I understand; I’ve been there.

A true desire, yet a desire that falls short of believing the truth that Jesus knows me. Jesus knows when I am receptive to Him. He knows when I need to hear those words; experience that joy; be humbled by His love; be awed by His attentiveness,

Jesus knows me.

When I consider God’s omniscience (His all-knowingness), Jeremiah 29:11 comes to mind, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  Memorized years ago, the truth of these words has always been encouraging and truth worth ingesting. The following verse reminds me of why it is so wonderful that Jesus knows me, Then you will call upon me, and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:12. I am invited to call on Him, come to Him, and pray with the assurance of His listening heart—the heart of one who knows me.

 Memorized scriptures

+ life experiences

+ pondering God’s engagement in my life

= transformation—heart knowledge that Jesus knows me.

This transformation, the realization that Jesus knows me, is life-giving, smile-creating, trust-building. It changes everything.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared before hand, that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10