The Baby Boomers among us will remember the old Phil Spector song (1958) that declares: “To know, know, know him is to love, love, love him; Just to see him smile makes my life worthwhile. To know, know, know him is to love, love, love him. And I do. And I do.”

Of course, he didn’t write the song with the Lord Jesus in mind. But oh how the lyrics apply! Once we come to know Him, no one else compares, no one else captures our hearts in the same way. The song continues: “I’ll be good to him, I’ll bring joy to him; everyone says there’ll come a day when I’ll walk alongside of him…” Knowing Jesus makes us eager to please Him. Being with Him makes life worthwhile.

The problem with some who attend church and profess faith in Him is this: They don’t really know Him. In Scripture to “know” someone implies intimacy. When it says that Adam knew Eve (Genesis 4:1, KJV) it is talking about more than conversation. From that union, Cain was conceived. Adam and Eve became one flesh, which was God’s intention for marriage (see Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5:31).

This kind of intimacy between two people served as a prototype for what was to come … a relationship between God and His people that’s close, mutually enjoyable, and focused on shared goals. The apostle John wrote, “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him” (1 John 2:3-5).

Obviously, none of us obey Him perfectly all the time. But earlier in his letter John explains how we can restore our close relationship with Him, even when we fail to live up to His commands: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1:9).

Knowing another person means seeing how they operate in various circumstances. Discovering the full spectrum of their values and attitudes. Their character is proved by how they stand by us and come through for us when we need them most. In the same way, we gain more and more knowledge of God by walking with Him on a daily basis.

How important are our spiritual experiences? Some Christians view them skeptically, figuring what they’ve experienced is minimal compared to His greatness. Like a drop of water in a vast sea, what they know of Him is absurdly small, so they conclude it’s of little consequence. But is it?

King David understood how vital experiencing God is. He writes, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8). We taste and see through personal engagement. In Matthew 11:4 Jesus tells a delegation sent by John the Baptist: “Go back and report to John what you hear and see.” It’s interesting that, in a court of law, hearsay (secondhand information) is not admissible as evidence. On the witness stand, we must report what WE have seen and heard. Sadly, many in church today can only relate what others have said about God. They have no personal experience of their own to share.

I’m not advocating that we should trust every random thought or experience we have. Our spiritual knowledge must be anchored in what God’s Word clearly teaches. It’s also true that we’re encouraged and inspired by what others have discovered about God. Their stories in Scripture confirm what we are learning about Him. But the experiences of others are not enough to build our faith. Only our own experience with God will make us reliable witnesses to His life of love, joy, hope, and peace.

John Wesley believed that apart from Scripture, experience is the strongest proof of Christianity. I like his summary of how the two work together: “What the scriptures promise, I enjoy.” In Malachi 3:10, God challenges His people to “Test me in this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Do we know Him well enough to believe we can enjoy this kind of spiritual abundance?

Paul wanted us to “know the hope to which he has called [us], the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18-19). The Holy Spirit will enlighten us to these truths, but we must through faith launch out to experience God’s promises for ourselves. The Christians who have made the most difference in the world haven’t been unusually gifted, brave, or smart. They’ve simply trusted in God, the One they’ve come to know intimately through personal experience.

In his August 16 devotional (My Utmost for His Highest) Oswald Chambers asks “Have I a personal history with Jesus Christ? The one sign of discipleship is intimate connection with Him, a knowledge of Jesus Christ which nothing can shake.”

Is our knowledge of Him enough to make us unshakable in the fragile and turbulent world around us? Can we give sure testimony of His unfailing love in every situation? Are we growing “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18)? Or are we content with secondhand testimony, leaving it to others to tell us what He is like?

The coming year can be a time of great discovery if we set our hearts on knowing Him better. Experience is the key to building trust, which fosters a life of obedient faith. When we love, love, love Him, we will always be striving to find new ways to bring joy to Him. He is delighted when we test Him, believing He will fulfill His promises.

Peter urged us: “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge.” Other qualities we need to add include self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. “If you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5, 8).

In 2020 my spiritual resolution is to be effective and productive for the One I love.

Will that be yours as well?