Chasing Butterflies Journals

I Want To Know Jesus!

BY CONNIE VANHORN

Happy New Year. Many of us make New Year’s resolutions; mine usually starts out like this…

• Exercise.

• Eat better.

• Read my Bible daily.

• Be a better mom.

But this year, I only put one thing on my list.

• I want to know Jesus.

We all read scripture and study God’s Word, but how well and close do we really know Jesus? I want to know Jesus. By knowing Jesus we can love others and ourselves. We can have eternal life. We can have the confidence to fight the impossible fight and to be part of God’s greatest mission.

Let’s travel this together.

I have opened the door. I have made a way. Come to me and have life.

Go into the world and share the good news. Spreading God’s word to “all” people.

God made a way,

JESUS

God’s news has traveled the world near and far. Jesus has come to offer salvation for all people. It has survived thousands of years and remains the most popular message of all time. It is the only story that transforms lives. To all people. Many people have tried to stop or change His message. But God can’t be stopped. His mission can’t be stopped. Jesus couldn’t be stopped.

WHAT WILL YOUR STORY BE?

God’s people were waiting for God to send a deliverer—a powerful lion that would crush their enemies. Instead, God sent Jesus. He sent a lamb to take our sin away. Jesus was not weak or afraid; He boldly faced His enemies. He did the impossible. And He stood up for outcasts and rejects.

God does not call the strongest, coolest, most powerful, popular, or the richest. In fact, He introduced Jesus by using a scruffy bohemian prophet, John the Baptist. John was different. He lived outside of mainstream religious culture. Yet his message was more timely than any other: Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near.

Jesus spent His time with ordinary people; He was not popular with the religious elite. He knew His purpose, and He spent much of his time with people who were flawed and overlooked. This message gives me hope. I used to spend most of my life not feeling good enough. When I finally gave my heart to Jesus, I was in the deepest of pits; I had no self-worth. I couldn’t understand how a perfect God could love a mess like me. I thought I had to fix myself first. I had it all wrong. God made a way for ordinary people like me to come into a relationship with a perfect Father.

And we see from how Jesus responded to the Samaritan woman, spending time with someone most would not look at or invite to the table, that Jesus’ way is forgiveness, kindness, and love.

Forgiveness, kindness, and love should be our way, too.

We should be friends with people on the outside— the people most won’t take the time to even glance towards. The people that others dislike. Jesus came to call sinners. Not the religious elite.

Jesus‘s purpose is much greater than earthly power or gain. His intentions are more significant. When we discover who Jesus really is, we become empowered to spread the good news.

Jesus’ kingdom has turned the world upside down. It belongs to the poor and the persecuted. By His kingdom, even the worst sinner can be saved.

OPEN YOUR HEART TO GOD!

Believe in Him and know His power in your life. Don’t stay in spiritual darkness. His message can change everything. Jesus was troubled, but he faced His fear and refused to let anything stop Him from doing the will of God. We can walk boldly into the unknown. We can have confidence in who God says we are.

Jesus did everything to accomplish the will of God. We should do the same. We can walk the same. We can know Jesus and be close to Him.

God made a way. The way is JESUS.