There are 2 kinds of knowledge. One kind informs and the other kind transforms. These are different ways of knowing.
1 Cor. 8 says, “We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.”
Knowledge that transforms is always personal, not just objective, it is always relational. It is not just knowing some facts in my head, it is rather allowing the truth to reach my heart, my hands, my life.
When Peter first met Jesus, Peter’s identity was as a fisherman, maybe a little bit of a hot-head, a kind of ‘ready-fire-aim’ type of guy. Jesus looks at Peter and says, “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”
I can just imagine Peter’s friends thinking, “really Jesus, a rock? This guy is kind of crumbly!” Then as you walk through the life of Peter following Jesus, you see a guy who transforms. Jesus saw Peter’s true identity, he spoke to it, he called it forth, and through the process of following Jesus Peter became the rock that Jesus knew he was.
May you have the kind of knowing that transforms you into your true self in Christ today.
“Truly transformational knowledge is always person, never merely objective. It involves knowing of, not merely knowing about. And it is always relational. It grows out of a relationship to the object that is known – whether this is God or one’s self.”
Susie Grade 