Day 6 - Friday | Daily Devotions | My Utmost for His Highest |

 August 16th

Does He know me

He calleth … by name. John 10:3.

When I have sadly misunderstood Him? (John 20:17.) It is possible to know all about doctrine and yet not know Jesus. The soul is in danger when knowledge of doctrine steps out of intimate touch with Jesus. Why was Mary weeping? Doctrine was no more to Mary than the grass under her feet. Any Pharisee could have made a fool of Mary doctrinally, but one thing they could not ridicule out of her was the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her, yet His blessings were nothing in comparison to Himself. Mary “saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus …” She immediately heard the voice and knew she had a history with the One who spoke. “Master!”

When I have stubbornly doubted? (John 20:27.) Have I been doubting something about Jesus—an experience to which others testify but which I have not had? The other disciples told Thomas they had seen Jesus, but Thomas doubted—“Except I shall see …, I will not believe.” Thomas needed the personal touch of Jesus. We do not know when His touches come or how they come, but when they do come, they are probably precious. “My Lord and my God!”

When I have selfishly denied Him? (John 21:15–17) Peter had denied Jesus Christ with oaths and curses, yet after the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter alone. He restored him in private and restored him before the others. “Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee.”

Do I have a personal history with Jesus Christ? The one sign of discipleship is an intimate connection with Him, a knowledge of Him that nothing can shake.

 Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year (Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering, 1986).