KNOWING HIM: THE SIMPLICITY WE KEEP FORGETTING
Mechelle Holbrook
Today’s Scripture: “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3, ESV
Theme: Our goal in life should be to know Jesus and make Him known.
WHEN LIFE FEELS LIKE PURE CHAOS
I don’t know about you, but this year has felt like a whirlwind to me. If I am being truthful, they all kind of feel that way. The world, my schedule—everything—seems chaotic and busy, busy, busy. And in the middle of it all, I often find myself praying, “Lord, help me see what I could be missing.”
Maybe you’re like me. I don’t want to be so consumed by news, deadlines, traffic, social media, and the endless noise of life that I miss the things God deeply desires for me. I don’t want to reach the end of my life filled with regret because I focused on all the wrong things. I want to be consumed with the things of God. Maybe you feel the same way.
We make life far more complicated than it needs to be—like we’re constantly chasing our own tails. But the truth is, we can stop. We can step out of the hamster wheel.
Think about it. When we get sick and must stay home, or when a flat tire suddenly forces us to pause, life keeps going… and the world keeps spinning. We may be missed, or something is left undone, but we are not as indispensable as we thought. Those moments reveal that some things we consider urgent are not actually on God’s agenda—they’re just on ours.
LETTING GO OF WHAT GOD NEVER ASKED US TO CARRY
Scripture clearly calls us to work diligently and faithfully, so I’m not saying we should neglect our responsibilities. But I am saying this: not everything we chase is something God asked us to pursue. And that realization can be freeing. Ephesians 4:22–24 (ESV) urges us to “put off your old self... and be renewed in the spirit of your minds.” Sometimes I’m not even sure how to do that… but God’s Word doesn’t leave us wondering. It tells us plainly: renewal comes from replacing the old with the new. And the “new” is the truth of God’s Word.
THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE THE LIFE GOD INTENDED
The first step, of course, is repentance—accepting Christ as Savior and stepping into the new life that only He can give. In Him, we become a new creation, and the Holy Spirit begins teaching us how to discern what is true. But we can’t walk in the new life while feeding ourselves with the same old things. We can’t live renewed lives while starving ourselves spiritually. God’s Word is living and active. It brings life. And you and I cannot live without it.
Make It Personal: So, here’s the challenge—for you and for me: This year, let’s make time in God’s Word our highest priority. Not an afterthought, not a leftover, but the first thing—because knowing God is the very purpose of our existence. Jesus said so in John 17:3. The Savior who died to have a relationship with us is inviting us to spend time with Him daily. That’s how important you are to Him. The question is: will He be just as important to us?
Pray: God, thank You for the gift of a brand-new day and a brand-new year. You are the God of fresh starts and new beginnings. Our lives cannot flourish and grow apart from You. Teach us to lay down our own agendas and embrace Yours instead. Help us remember that we were created to know You and to make You known. Draw us into Your Word, renew our minds, and lead us in Your truth. Amen
Read: John 17:3, Ephesians 4:22-24, Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:8
Weekly Memory Verse: “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14, ESV