My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27
The word Jesus uses here—ginōskō—means much more than basic knowledge. This isn't just knowing facts about someone. It describes a deep, personal knowledge that comes through a close relationship. When shepherds in Bible times used this word, they meant they knew each sheep's unique marks, behaviors, and even the sound of their bleats. They carried this knowledge in their hearts.
Jesus knows everything about you with both truth and love. He sees the hidden hurts, the fears you cover up with busyness, and the dreams you're scared to share. A shepherd in Jordan once explained how he could tell when a sheep was hurt by a slight change in how it walked - long before anyone else noticed. Jesus knows you even better.
Jesus knows you because He walks with you, not because He watches from far away. Think about the difference between someone studying you from a distance and sharing your daily life through good and bad times. When astronauts landed on the moon in 1969, NASA "knew" what was happening, but only the astronauts truly "knew" what it felt like to be there.
The fantastic thing is that Jesus knows you and loves you fully. Most of us fear being fully known because we think it would lead to rejection. We've seen how people's knowledge often leads to judgment. But Jesus is different - His perfect knowledge leads to perfect love, not criticism. He knows the worst about you and still loves you without limits.
Jesus knew you before you were born. When He says, "I know them," He speaks as the eternal God who knew you before you existed. This isn't knowledge He gained over time - He has always known you beyond the limits of time. The same God who counted the stars also counted the hairs on your head.
How would your life change if you genuinely believed Jesus knows you completely? Would you still try so hard to please people who barely know you? Would you still hide parts of yourself? Would you still question your worth? Being known by Jesus means being seen and loved completely - not for what you do but for who you are.
No human relationship can offer this kind of complete knowing. At the time of this Devo, I had been married to my beautiful wife, Aida, for 25 years. By today's standards, that is a feat of its own, which can only be attributed to God's grace. In my lifetime, I have known Aida for 29 years. Even then, I only know parts of her. But God knows everything about her completely. Truly amazing!
Jesus' deep knowledge invites openness rather than hiding. Adam and Eve hid when they realized they were exposed. But Jesus offers something better: being fully known yet wrapped in His grace. His knowledge doesn't shame you but accepts you. When He looks at you, He sees who you are now and who you are becoming.
Godseekers, find peace in this truth today: Jesus truly knows you. Your Shepherd sees you not as just a face in the crowd but as uniquely made. He knows your voice, needs, and heart—and calls you His own. There is no greater safety than being fully known and loved by the One who made you.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for knowing me entirely yet loving me without limits. In a world where I often feel misunderstood, Your recognition comforts me. Help me live freely, knowing I am fully known and loved. Help me stop hiding from You and instead rest in Your perfect love. Let me hear Your voice clearly as You call my name. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
- What parts of my life am I still hiding from God, thinking He wouldn't love me if He knew?
- How would my relationship with Jesus change if I accepted that He already knows me completely and still loves me?
Step of Faith
Today, I will share one part of my life that I've kept hidden with Jesus, trusting that His loving knowledge brings healing, not shame.
