Gems of Knowledge

Today’s One Year Bible Verses: Nehemiah 3:15–5:13, 1 Corinthians 7:25–40, Psalm 32:1–11, Proverbs 21:5–7

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Knowing The One You Follow

Over the last few days, the Lord’s message has been unfolding one piece at a time. First came the urgency to seek Him. Then He warned that destruction is coming and called His people closer so He can prepare us and bring us into His safety and care. Today’s Gem of Knowledge take us another step forward:

“The time is coming when all will need to decide where their allegiance lies—with Me or with others.”

But here’s what I think we sometimes miss: we will only have that kind of conviction if we truly know Him.

It’s one thing to believe God exists. It’s another to hope everything we’ve been taught about Him is true. But when you have spent time with Him, learned to recognize His voice, experienced His faithfulness, watched Him answer prayers, been corrected by Him, comforted by Him, and walked with Him through the hardest seasons of your life, something changes.

You don’t just believe anymore.

You know Him.

And knowing someone takes time and effort. Relationships aren’t built through an occasional conversation when we need something. They develop as we spend time together. The same is true with God. We come to know Him through His Word, prayer, worship, obedience, listening to the Holy Spirit, and simply walking with Him day after day.

Think about the apostles. Their willingness to suffer for Jesus didn’t come from knowing about Him. They had walked with Him. They had eaten with Him, listened to Him teach, watched Him heal the sick and raise the dead, seen Him crucified, and encountered Him alive after His resurrection. When persecution came, they weren’t being asked to defend an idea they hoped was true.

They knew Jesus.

That kind of conviction is difficult for the world to shake.

And I believe that’s why today’s Gem carries such urgency. If a time is coming when our allegiance will be challenged, now is the time to develop the relationship that will anchor us when it happens.

We see a picture of allegiance in Nehemiah. As the people rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls, some of God’s own people began exploiting their fellow Jews for financial gain. Nehemiah confronted them because their actions didn’t reflect the God they claimed to serve. Their allegiance to Him had to become more important than their personal advantage, and they responded by returning what they had taken.

Paul gives us a similar perspective in today’s reading when he reminds the Corinthians that “this world as we know it will soon pass away” (1 Corinthians 7:31, NLT). Our relationships, responsibilities, possessions, and plans matter, but none of them can take the place that belongs to God.

If the day comes when the world demands something from us that contradicts what Jesus asks of us, that probably isn’t the best time to begin figuring out who He is.

We need to know Him before that day comes.

Psalm 32 gives us a beautiful picture of the relationship God desires:

“The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’” — Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

That’s relationship. He speaks. We listen. He guides. We follow. And through years of walking together, we learn that He can be trusted.

So perhaps the question today isn’t merely, “Where does my allegiance lie?”

Maybe we should also ask:

“Do I know Jesus well enough that no one could convince me to leave Him?”

Don’t wait until your faith is tested to build your relationship with Him. Seek Him now. Spend time with Him now. Learn His voice now. Walk with Him now.

Because when you know the One you’re following, allegiance becomes more than a decision.

It becomes unquestionable devotion. 💎

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Action (5 Minutes with God)

Take at least 5 minutes to be with God today. Ask Him:

• “Lord, what do You want me to know about this personally?”
  • Journal what He gives you through His Holy Spirit.
• Then ask, “What do You want me to do?”
  • Journal what He reveals – then do it!

Allow the Holy Spirit to help you know Him more deeply—not simply know more about Him.

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Prayer

Dear Lord, I don’t want to simply know about You; I want to know You. Draw me into a deeper relationship with You and teach me to recognize Your voice, trust Your character, and follow You even when it costs me something. Build such a deep conviction within me that when my allegiance is tested, my heart is already settled. Whatever the future holds, I want to be able to say with certainty: I know Him. I belong to Him. And I will follow Him. In Your beautiful and mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

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