KNOWING ABOUT GOD VS. KNOWING GOD 

Micah Smith 

Today's Scripture: "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" Luke 6:46, ESV 

Theme: It's possible to know about God even while running from God. 

THE CHURCH KID PARADOX 

When I hear dramatic testimonies of someone's life doing a complete 180 after meeting Jesus, I get... a little jealous. Not the reaction most people expect, I know. But I grew up in a Southern Baptist church literally from birth. My grandpa was a founding member who also cut the grass and did the maintenance. My parents were married there. We were at church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night - a lot of church! I never knew life outside of hearing about Christ's love and sacrifice. I did youth programming, went to youth group, and even saw the Power Team live (church kid of the 90s DEEP CUT). I prayed to accept Christ because that's what kids my age in our church were doing, especially after a revival team presented a graphic depiction of hell that felt a little too real for someone sitting up front at that age. 

But knowing about God and actually following Him are two very different things. Once I got to college and my choices became my own, I largely walked away from closely following Jesus - trading it for fraternity life, partying, and an amount of time playing video games that some would deem “unhealthy.” To make it worse, I somehow got a 4.0 GPA that first year, so no one suspected anything was off – nor was there a real call-to-change for me personally. I could call Him "Lord" while living however I wanted. 

JONAH'S CLEAR DIRECTION, CLEARER DEFIANCE 

Jonah is a perfect picture of this tension. We don't know much about his upbringing, but we know he understood exactly who God was and what God wanted. God's instruction couldn't have been clearer: “Go to Nineveh.” Jonah's response couldn't have been clearer either: “Absolutely not.” He didn't doubt God's existence or authority - he simply refused to obey it, running in the opposite direction instead. Jonah could "call God Lord" while actively fleeing His voice. Sound familiar? 

That's exactly where Jesus meets us in Luke 6:46. He's not questioning whether we know the right words or theology. He's asking why we call Him "Lord" while ignoring what He actually tells us to do. It's possible to know all the right answers, sit in the front row, and even lead others - all while running from genuine obedience. 

The turning point for me came unexpectedly. After that first wayward year, I was asked to volunteer with the youth group at summer camp. Ironically, being placed in a position meant to disciple kids younger than myself forced me to confront how I was actually living and the doubts I'd buried. Six months later, my grandfather - a pillar in our family and church - passed away. I had to decide: walk away from faith entirely or actually trust that Christ was who He said He was and start listening to His voice instead of just knowing His Name. 

A DIFFERENT KIND OF TESTIMONY 

So why the jealousy over dramatic testimonies? Not because I wish I'd lived "harder" or made worse choices to have a better story. It's because those transformations are so obvious... so definitive... so specific - there's a clear before and after. Sure, I did things during that season I'd rather not talk to my mom about over coffee, but I never had that dramatic rock-bottom moment or a single defining turnaround. And I've had to learn that's okay. Maybe the hardest lesson wasn't about having a cleaner testimony - it was realizing that my right standing with God was never about how "good" I was or how many Wednesday night services I skipped. It's about the sacrifice of my Savior and a grace I still don't deserve, no matter how "good" I convince myself I've been. 

Make it Personal: Where in your life are you calling Jesus "Lord" while quietly running the other direction? Maybe it's not as dramatic as fleeing to Tarshish, but perhaps it's ignoring conviction about how you spend your time, treat others, or handle your finances. Knowing the right answers isn't the same as living in obedience. What is God clearly asking you to do that you've been avoiding? 

Pray: Father, forgive me for the times I've called You Lord while living like You weren't. Help me move beyond simply knowing about You to actually following You - even when Your direction is uncomfortable or inconvenient. Give me the courage to stop running and start obeying, trusting that Your ways are better than my own resistance. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

Read: Jonah 1:1-17, Luke 6:46-49 

Weekly Memory Verse: “But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah 1:3a, ESV